CaRT to waste our licence fee on a boating app...

[jupiter1124]

Who in the name of all that is holy requested a boating app??

 

CaRT, just fix the locks and keep the canal full. Please don't spend money on this. Software is a bottomless pit. We all know it's going to be junk, and the website already gives us the information we need.

 

Edited November 23 by jupiter1124

[Jen-in-Wellies]

It could be worse. It could be a blockchain powered, virtual reality, AI assisted boating app.

To get the most recent three over hyped IT buzzwords in there.

[TheBiscuits]

An app that allows simple reporting of issues makes sense - exact location provided, probably a pick list of standard options (broken paddle, jammed gate, whatever) and hopefully more people reporting problems rather than just moaning.

 

If that's being made available, it might as well also provide up to date stoppages and restrictions.

 

If more people can and do report issues then CRT get a better idea of which problems are having the biggest effect on boaters.  Don't forget that it's obvious to us boaters but not necessarily to whoever collects the reports.

 

 

[Tonka]

Hopefully we will be able to report non licensed boats 

[IanD]

1 minute ago, Tonka said:

Hopefully we will be able to report non licensed boats 

How will you know they're not licensed?

[Tonka]

3 minutes ago, IanD said:

How will you know they're not licensed?

Because they don't display a licence

 

Which it states you must do in CRT bylaws even though a load of people won't do it because they claim that they haven't got a printer

[ditchcrawler]

4 minutes ago, IanD said:

How will you know they're not licensed?

Because they are scruffy (only joking, don't take it personally )

[IanD]

14 minutes ago, Tonka said:

Because they don't display a licence

 

Which it states you must do in CRT bylaws even though a load of people won't do it because they claim that they haven't got a printer

Or they still haven't cottoned on to the fact that after saying this wasn't needed some years ago CART changed their mind back again.

 

No license on display doesn't mean not licensed...

Edited November 23 by IanD

[Tonka]

2 minutes ago, IanD said:

Or they still haven't cottoned on to the fact that after saying this wasn't needed some years ago CART changed their mind back again.

 

No license on display doesn't mean not licensed...

But if loads of people reported a boat as unlicensed then CRT should act and should be able to fine people for not displaying. 

As I have stated before if a boat does not show a name or a number. CRT should have the power to remove that boat. 

Otherwise we might as well all not have a licence

[Jerra]

23 minutes ago, Tonka said:

Because they don't display a licence

 

Which it states you must do in CRT bylaws even though a load of people won't do it because they claim that they haven't got a printer

I thought CRT would provide paper ones if you requested  them, perhaps I am wrong.

[IanD]

18 minutes ago, Tonka said:

But if loads of people reported a boat as unlicensed then CRT should act and should be able to fine people for not displaying. 

As I have stated before if a boat does not show a name or a number. CRT should have the power to remove that boat. 

Otherwise we might as well all not have a licence

I agree -- but my point was that you as an individual don't know a boat is unlicensed just because it's not displaying one, CART do (assuming the boat displays a number).

 

Actually I'm not sure mine displays a license, oops... 😉

[blackrose]

1 hour ago, jupiter1124 said:

Who in the name of all that is holy requested a boating app??

 

CaRT, just fix the locks and keep the canal full. Please don't spend money on this. Software is a bottomless pit. We all know it's going to be junk, and the website already gives us the information we need.

 

 

But how will CRT attract the younger generation to the canals if they don't have an app? 😋

[Tonka]

2 minutes ago, IanD said:

I agree -- but my point was that you as an individual don't know a boat is unlicensed just because it's not displaying one, CART do (assuming the boat displays a number).

 

Actually I'm not sure mine displays a license, oops... 😉

As I said before then you report it. If it has got a licence and not displayed  CRT should fine them for not displaying. If it has not got a licence CRT should do them.

 

If you look at the Bridgewater Canal website you can report unlicensed boats and linger longers for overstaying their mooring.

[IanD]

12 minutes ago, blackrose said:

 

But how will CRT attract the younger generation to the canals if they don't have an app? 😋

Maybe the app might actually be useful, both for reporting problems and keeping boaters informed of them?

 

Though not to dinosaurs who think modern technology is the work of the devil, obviously. Even though many of them use it to post on CWDF... 😉

Edited November 23 by IanD
Autocorrect...

[Hudds Lad]

I like the idea of an app, certainly easier than having to navigate the CRT website to find a number to ring and work out which region you're currently under (it's been a few years since i had to report anything to be fair).

 

 

Also, our boat currently shows an out-of-date licence in the window.

It is licenced, just not been to visit since the new one was issued to swap them out.

[Alan de Enfield]

5 minutes ago, IanD said:

many of them use it to postpone CWDF... 😉

 

Is that a new feature from the last upgrade ?

[IanD]

9 minutes ago, Tonka said:

As I said before then you report it. If it has got a licence and not displayed  CRT should fine them for not displaying. If it has not got a licence CRT should do them.

 

If you look at the Bridgewater Canal website you can report unlicensed boats and linger longers for overstaying their mooring.

Can CART legally fine a boater who has a license for not displaying it?

 

Same for the Bridgewater -- *you* might be able to report boats who aren't displaying a license, but that doesn't necessarily make them unlicensed, does it?

 

Overstaying moorers -- great, reporting might cut down the number. But unless CART go out and check for themselves I doubt they can do anything... 😞

2 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

Is that a new feature from the last upgrade ?

Post on not postpone -- sodding autocorrect again...

Edited November 23 by IanD

[Clanky]

1 hour ago, Tonka said:

Because they don't display a licence

 

Which it states you must do in CRT bylaws even though a load of people won't do it because they claim that they haven't got a printer

The paper licence is not that difficult to forge so how would you know that it’s not genuine just by cruising past? 

[Tonka]

1 minute ago, IanD said:

Can CART legally fine a boater who has a license for not displaying it?

 

Same for the Bridgewater -- *you* might be able to report boats who aren't displaying a license, but that doesn't necessarily make them unlicensed, does it?

 

Overstaying moorers -- great, reporting might cut down the number. But unless CART go out and check for themselves I doubt they can do anything... 😞

If you read what I posted, I specifically stated SHOULD fine them. That implies they may need to change the current bylaws. 

 

Going back to the OP. 

How does he know that it is licence money paying for it. It could be gov grant money.

It also states that a volunteer is joining the board. Has he been appointed or voted in like the rest of the board. I assume he will not be paid as he is a volunteer. It also states that he has boating experience, does nobody else on the  board have boating experience?

[Arthur Marshall]

I think it's the one good idea CRT have had in years (apart from this newfangled notion of fixing broken things). Boaters notice stuff that towpath walkers don't and currently it's a real hassle to report anything.

I doubt it'll report unlicensed boats as most don't show names and numbers (not if they've any sense, anyway), nor will it be for reporting overstayers, even if licenced. Might add to the fun, though, if it did. CRT would have a whole team fielding reports and binning them, seeing as how they can't do bugger all about either of them.

Thinking on, though, it'll probably just automatically trigger a printer somewhere in the bowels of the office to print out, pack up and send a "CRT AWARE" notice for the local team to sellotape to whatever's bust, then tick a box on a spreadsheet that says "Action taken".

[JoeC]

1 hour ago, jupiter1124 said:

Who in the name of all that is holy requested a boating app??

 

CaRT, just fix the locks and keep the canal full. Please don't spend money on this. Software is a bottomless pit. We all know it's going to be junk, and the website already gives us the information we need.

Have you ever tried to report a fault, issue, complaint etc. to CRT? The website is not that bad but you cannot attach photographs at the point of reporting. I am looking forward to the app.

[MtB]

21 minutes ago, IanD said:

Can CART legally fine a boater who has a license for not displaying it?

 

They can't fine directly but they can prosecute. They choose not to though, dunno why. Possibly because fines levied by a court don't go into the CRT coffers.

 

Nigel Moore sometimes raged about them not using their powers to mount prosecutions. CRT are one of the few bodies with the power to mount criminal prosecutions, the Post Office being another. 

 

They could enforce all the canal byelaws apparently, but don't.

 

 

Edited November 23 by MtB
Add a bit.

[ditchcrawler]

20 minutes ago, IanD said:

 Same for the Bridgewater -- *you* might be able to report boats who aren't displaying a license, but that doesn't necessarily make them unlicensed, does it?

 

 

You use to be able to on the CRT web site, but they said they know which boats are not licenced 

[Momac]

Yes the app does seem like a very good idea . 

 

C&RT can't be expected to know about every defect . Whether they have the means to do anything about it is another matter . But at least they can prioritise .

C&RT have said they don't want us to report unlicensed boats.

 

 

 

[wandering snail]

NABO's editor is helping to formulate this app for CRT using his professional knowledge and all for free.