Routemasters will continue to roll.
May 19th, 2005 | 01:46 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 251
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Routemasters will continue to roll.
SPECIAL ROLE FOR ROUTEMASTERS
By Jennifer Sym, PA
London's world-famous Routemaster red buses will continue to ferry passengers
across the capital, the Mayor confirmed tonight.
The popular "jump on, jump off" double-deckers with conductors have been
phased off many routes, and replaced with driver-only transport.
Their disappearance sparked campaigns to save them, but Ken Livingstone
tonight revealed plans to preserve the familiar icon on London's roads.
He told BBC London 94.9 radio: "As we replace all the existing main routes
with the new buses, we have now agreed two routes which will run virtually right
the way across the centre of London, which will be kept for Routemasters, but
they'll be in addition to all the existing routes.
"So for people who just want to get on the Routemaster, experience that
old-time bus, they will be there to do that and you won't have to pay a special
premium or anything."
The well-loved double-deckers first ran in 1954 and examples which were sold
off by bus companies - some going for as little as #2,000 and others for between
#8,000 and #10,000 - were bought by enthusiasts.
The more easily accessible new bendy buses can carry up to 140 passengers,
compared to the Routemaster's 73.
But a survey two years ago found as many as 85% of foreign visitors would
rather travel on the top of a double-decker than stand on a faster,
single-decker bus.
By Jennifer Sym, PA
London's world-famous Routemaster red buses will continue to ferry passengers
across the capital, the Mayor confirmed tonight.
The popular "jump on, jump off" double-deckers with conductors have been
phased off many routes, and replaced with driver-only transport.
Their disappearance sparked campaigns to save them, but Ken Livingstone
tonight revealed plans to preserve the familiar icon on London's roads.
He told BBC London 94.9 radio: "As we replace all the existing main routes
with the new buses, we have now agreed two routes which will run virtually right
the way across the centre of London, which will be kept for Routemasters, but
they'll be in addition to all the existing routes.
"So for people who just want to get on the Routemaster, experience that
old-time bus, they will be there to do that and you won't have to pay a special
premium or anything."
The well-loved double-deckers first ran in 1954 and examples which were sold
off by bus companies - some going for as little as #2,000 and others for between
#8,000 and #10,000 - were bought by enthusiasts.
The more easily accessible new bendy buses can carry up to 140 passengers,
compared to the Routemaster's 73.
But a survey two years ago found as many as 85% of foreign visitors would
rather travel on the top of a double-decker than stand on a faster,
single-decker bus.
May 19th, 2005 | 03:23 PM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,271
Likes: 0
I don't know...maybe I'm a minority of one...
I find the routemasters to be very dangerous. I have read of stories where attempted grabbing of handbags has led to people being pulled out of the bus and killed under the wheels...I think they're ugly.
Yes I like doubledecker buses but I like the more modern ones with doors that are closed.
I despise the single type buses they put say on route #12..what an abomination they are.
I find the routemasters to be very dangerous. I have read of stories where attempted grabbing of handbags has led to people being pulled out of the bus and killed under the wheels...I think they're ugly.
Yes I like doubledecker buses but I like the more modern ones with doors that are closed.
I despise the single type buses they put say on route #12..what an abomination they are.
May 19th, 2005 | 03:50 PM
#4
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,323
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" find the routemasters to be very dangerous"
Only when used incorrectly. They're aesthetically pleasing, and are functional enough, which is my view makes them far more useful than the hideous monsters they're designing today.
Also, the bendy buses - some 60 feet in length - often mount kerbs/pavements when taking corners, and are an hazard for the motorist. The routemasters are nimble, instantly recognisable, and are officially iconic.
London is far too keen to sell its soul in the name of efficiency and European integration!
Only when used incorrectly. They're aesthetically pleasing, and are functional enough, which is my view makes them far more useful than the hideous monsters they're designing today.
Also, the bendy buses - some 60 feet in length - often mount kerbs/pavements when taking corners, and are an hazard for the motorist. The routemasters are nimble, instantly recognisable, and are officially iconic.
London is far too keen to sell its soul in the name of efficiency and European integration!
May 19th, 2005 | 03:54 PM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,271
Likes: 0
What I was referring to in my post was a story I read in the Evening Standard about 4 or 5 years ago of a Scandanavian tourist who had just arrived in London and was riding in a routemaster when an attempted snatch and run thief grabbed at her handbag and pulled her off the bus and under the wheels killing her instantly. That simply could not and should not happen with a modern bus.
I am sure they could design buses in the general style of the routemasters without the dangerous open platform at the rear, with doors that open and close, to prevent incidents like this from happening.
Until they do, I still believe the routemasters, given modern traffic conditions, are somewhat more dangerous than buses with doors that close.
But I agree, the single level joined buses are even more dangerous.
I am sure they could design buses in the general style of the routemasters without the dangerous open platform at the rear, with doors that open and close, to prevent incidents like this from happening.
Until they do, I still believe the routemasters, given modern traffic conditions, are somewhat more dangerous than buses with doors that close.
But I agree, the single level joined buses are even more dangerous.
May 20th, 2005 | 06:08 AM
#7
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
bring back the routemaster!!!
they were great - jumping on while they were pulling off was all part of the fun !!!
The 94 just isn't the same any longer
BTW i get a bendy bus to work and nobody bothers paying - is it really an efficient move?
they were great - jumping on while they were pulling off was all part of the fun !!!
The 94 just isn't the same any longer
BTW i get a bendy bus to work and nobody bothers paying - is it really an efficient move?
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May 20th, 2005 | 09:36 AM
#8
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,271
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Moschops...
How do you know nobody is paying? I would wager the majority have 1 day, 1 week or monthly passes. After all, every so often inspectors come around and check tickets. Many places on the continent operate on the honour system and it always seemed to me the conductors and drivers hardly ever looked all that closely at the tickets (they were always valid tickets) I show, half the time on the routemasters when the conductor came around as soon as I reached in and took out the pass, he said okay without even looking at it.
How do you know nobody is paying? I would wager the majority have 1 day, 1 week or monthly passes. After all, every so often inspectors come around and check tickets. Many places on the continent operate on the honour system and it always seemed to me the conductors and drivers hardly ever looked all that closely at the tickets (they were always valid tickets) I show, half the time on the routemasters when the conductor came around as soon as I reached in and took out the pass, he said okay without even looking at it.
