Forum Topic

Which one do we want bearing the number 207

       From today's Evening Standard we read re the two replacement options for London's Bendy ones. Of the two in the final, I prefer the Fifties style, at least bring back something of " old London" and  THE vehicle which is associated with this City by persons all around the world. Of all places, the original ones are still operating in China, Hong Kong to be exact. Please see the two contenders  :-           http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23605116-details/Mayor+unveils+winning+designs+for+Routemaster/article.do

Tony Price ● 6487d12 Comments

I prefer the Aston Martin/Foster design, but either of them would be an improvement on the bendy bus....

David Fox ● 6487d

For me, neither. The  ST/RT/RM  and Q1 designs of buses are obsolete as regards passenger transport. One might as well introduce Underground trains based on "Standard" tube stock and "T Class" surface stock, and I suppose "B type" buses - handy if we have to bail the Frogs out again.I don't see why we have to to look up our backsides to design a new bus for London. The RM has a pretty front end but the rest of the styling was pre-war. Now the mechanicals and bodywork work construction were brilliant.What we need in London is a new design of bus which looks right, is reliable, easy to maintain and rider/driver friendly. Of course in these days we've killed any design talent and imagination that we could have had. (If you agree tick this box, if you disagree don't tick this box but tick that box. If you don't tick either this box or that box then your opinion will be ignored. If you tick both boxes then both opinions will count due to a system design error).The Aston Martin design demonstrates one thing about that company - they can't design buses either. De Lorean had designed a bus - the DMC-80. Now imagine getting that up to 88mph!God help us if they start building them! I helped restore a 1960s AM in southern France, pure cr*p! The only interchangeable parts were those sourced from outside AM.Having said all that one design criterion I would have on for a new bus would be narrower doors to prevent oversized pushchairs and persons boarding. Just like the RFs of yesteryear!

Alan Brainsby ● 6487d

Re  either of them would be an improvement on the bendy bus....          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    what monies will be / are lost by those blessed things I shudder to think. Loads of people get on without paying, gaining entry via the middle doors. I used to visit an old gentleman in Bromgrove Yard and travelled  by bus, and from there back to Ealing Common area,  the free travellers were much in the majority. On one trip one person did pay, so I congratulated him, to which he responded by saying they are known in certain circles as the Free buses.      And I was told the other day, by whom I cannot remeber, but apparently loads of streets had to be changed because of the "bendy ones" and lamp-posts and other objects re-sited, especially those near corners. And try overtaking one when on a bike, when the driver decides to pull away.

Tony Price ● 6487d

Re    I would have on for a new bus would be narrower doors to prevent oversized pushchairs and persons boarding          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      now that will go down well, especially the latter bit !!

Tony Price ● 6487d

Didn't Foster @ Partners cock the Millennium Bridge?The only thing architects seem to know about buses and bridges is how to throw up on them.

Alan Brainsby ● 6487d

Re  The only thing architects seem to know about buses and bridges is how to throw up on them.      xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    you could well be right there. Reminds me of a very interesting story in the Southampton Evening Echo many years ago. There was and still is a red brick built bridge carrying the mainline rail track to London over a road in the Swaythling area. The road is very narrow and high vehicles have to be centred so as  to clear their tops, there being traffic lights to control a one-way flow of traffic. One day there was a photograph in the local paper of a double-decker bus which got stuck earlier in the day under the archway of the bridge. All sorts of officials from the then So'ton Council run bus company, plus Rep's from British Rail and from the Roadways all gathered and engaged in much scratching of heads. Eventually with their combined brain power it was resolved to dismantle the lower of  bricks in the archway of the bridge, and I think such work had actually  started. Then comes along a lone 5 year boy. What you doing, he asked. Although the predicament was well apparent, the host of officials explained to him what they were doing. Not necessary , he retorted. All you need do is just let the tyres down !! And that's what they then did. ( and resolved the problem ).        I think of it every time I go under that bridge, which now has a signal which obviously has a camera watching potential vehicles and if they will not be able to clear under the bridge, a sign comes up telling them to avert their attempt.

Tony Price ● 6487d

Tony - you read my post!!!Well, it's Boxing Day and I thought a little humour might be in order.But realistically why make the doors wider than the seats? The emergency exit doors aren't very big either. Imagine being trapped in a burning bus with some tub o'lard jammed in the emergency exit and a load of people behind one. One would be squashed to death!

Alan Brainsby ● 6487d

Whichever new bus we have numbered 207 let's have bus conductors on them. They could collect the fares; be a source of information; deal with suspect packages; keep public order and have a direct communication with the Police.

Eric Alan Leach ● 6487d

Re  Whichever new bus we have numbered 207 let's have bus conductors on them. They could collect the fares; be a source of information; deal with suspect packages; keep public order and have a direct communication with the Police          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      could'nt agree more, and on the conductors point I wonder if their cost would be outweighed by savings in fare dodging. Only problem is, who would be prepared to be one on night buses.

Tony Price ● 6487d

Regarding conductors and fare-dodging perhaps having turnstiles on boarding the bus would be an option. It was tried on route E3 in the 1970s and was a failure then, but 30 years later, not forgetting we now have gated entry to the Underground.

Alan Brainsby ● 6487d

Re  Regarding conductors and fare-dodging perhaps having turnstiles on boarding the bus would be an option. It was tried on route E3 in the 1970s and was a failure then, but 30 years later, not forgetting we now have gated entry to the Underground.           xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx        that's a good idea ( except when someone's card doesn't work and the queue behind is out in the rain? )

Tony Price ● 6487d

and the queue behind is out in the rain? Confucius he say, among other things, "Install more bus stop shelters!"Joke -Q- what's an Essex girl use for protection during sex?A- a bus stop shelter!Apologies to any ladies from Essex who might read this and not have realized the utility of a bus stop shelter.

Alan Brainsby ● 6487d