Bendy Buses Do You Pay?

[Pickman's model]

What is the source for that information? Are there official timings published or anything?

i've seen over the past few days that 38s seem to be terminating at tottenham court road, which they very rarely did before. turning into andrew borde st (rd?) at centre point seems to be taxing the skill of the drivers as they attempt to manoeuvre around the 242s, 14s and 134s already parking there. this causes a tailback along charing x rd to tottenham court rd, delaying the other buses trying to go towards trafalgar sq. what it's like over towards hackney ctl i dread to think.

 

[nino_savatte]

I hate bendy buses; they're always full.

 

[PacificOcean]

I hate bendy buses; they're always full.

Now imagine what it would be like with Routemasters on that route as they have half the capacity of a bendy bus.

As misty-eyed as people get about RMs, we need a high capacity mass transist system, not a working musuem.

 

[Harold Hill]

Now imagine what it would be like with Routemasters on that route as they have half the capacity of a bendy bus.

As misty-eyed as people get about RMs, we need a high capacity mass transist system, not a working musuem.

Most of the time TfL have reduced the frequency on routes handed over to bendys.

We do need high capacity vehicles - doesn't necessarily mean they have to be bendys though. People like a seat.

 

[nino_savatte]

Now imagine what it would be like with Routemasters on that route as they have half the capacity of a bendy bus.

As misty-eyed as people get about RMs, we need a high capacity mass transist system, not a working musuem.

I would also say some improvement is needed on routes where midi buses are used. They are always full.

 

[PacificOcean]

Most of the time TfL have reduced the frequency on routes handed over to bendys.

We do need high capacity vehicles - doesn't necessarily mean they have to be bendys though. People like a seat.

While not scientific - my own experience is that the number of 12's seems as numerous now they have switched to bendies as they did with RMs.

And as for the 25, you literally had to wait for four or five to go past before you could get on. Now most of the time you can get on the first bendy bus, though I concur it's a bit of a squeeze. While a seat would be nice, getting from A to B in a timely fashion is more important to me tbh.

 

[PacificOcean]

I would also say some improvement is needed on routes where midi buses are used. They are always full.

The use of midi buses on some routes (like the 319) is ludicrious, I agree.

 

[Pickman's model]

While not scientific - my own experience is that the number of 12's seems as numerous now they have switched to bendies as they did with RMs.

And as for the 25, you literally had to wait for four or five to go past before you could get on. Now most of the time you can get on the first bendy bus, though I concur it's a bit of a squeeze. While a seat would be nice, getting from A to B in a timely fashion is more important to me tbh.

yr having a laugh!

i've never had as much difficulty getting a seat on the 25 as i have since the fuckers became bendy buses.

 

[nino_savatte]

While not scientific - my own experience is that the number of 12's seems as numerous now they have switched to bendies as they did with RMs.

And as for the 25, you literally had to wait for four or five to go past before you could get on. Now most of the time you can get on the first bendy bus, though I concur it's a bit of a squeeze. While a seat would be nice, getting from A to B in a timely fashion is more important to me tbh.

You should try the 207 (a bendy bus) from Shepherd's Bush to Hayes: it's almost always full and there are often yawning gaps in the frequency of service. Come to think about it, the bus service on Uxbridge Road is diabolical.

 

[PacificOcean]

yr having a laugh!

i've never had as much difficulty getting a seat on the 25 as i have since the fuckers became bendy buses.

Are we talking about the same 25? The only bus route that covers a major main road all the way from Whitechapel to Stratford?

 

[liberty]

What is the source for that information? Are there official timings published or anything?

No it is just my findings.. The buses cannot get round cars and the jounrey from Hackney to Clerkenwell can take 58 to 110 mins much longer than before

 

[Pickman's model]

Are we talking about the same 25? The only bus route that covers a major main road all the way from Whitechapel to Stratford?

yes.

and it's the west end to stratford - even ilford!

 

[PacificOcean]

yes.

and it's the west end to stratford - even ilford!

I know, but for the section between Whitechapel and Straford, it's the only bus route that runs along that major road! That's were it get's really busy and bendy buses have come into their own.

 

[liberty]

Out of interest, anyone know what its like at Victoria station now that the routemasters have gone?. It was pretty chaotic there before the 38's became bendy buses, must be awful now.

Not been to the Victoria end but I'm sure the length of the 38 does not help...

Does anyone know if they have cut the amount of buses as the new ones carry more people?

 

[Pickman's model]

Not been to the Victoria end but I'm sure the length of the 38 does not help...

Does anyone know if they have cut the amount of buses as the new ones carry more people?

they seem to terminate before they reach victoria, presumably because of the increased duration of the journey.

 

[Pickman's model]

I know, but for the section between Whitechapel and Straford, it's the only bus route that runs along that major road! That's were it get's really busy and bendy buses have come into their own.

i only use the bit between whitechapel and the west end, trying to avoid a trip to stratford or other points east.

 

[Harold Hill]

I know, but for the section between Whitechapel and Straford, it's the only bus route that runs along that major road! That's were it get's really busy and bendy buses have come into their own.

I used to have to get the 25 regularly from Stratford to Aldgate and imho its no different - often I can't get on the first one that comes by but then the N25 is always packed out and that runs every 10 minutes. There has been talk of people deserting the District Line between Aldgate and Bow Road for the 25 for the chance of a free ride.

The sensible thing to have done would be to introduce another route along the corridor running out to say London Bridge or Leytonstone at either end.

 

[PacificOcean]

The sensible thing to have done would be to introduce another route along the corridor running out to say London Bridge or Leytonstone at either end.

I agree. I still don't understand why such a major road only has one bus route.

 

[Harold Hill]

While not scientific - my own experience is that the number of 12's seems as numerous now they have switched to bendies as they did with RMs.

And as for the 25, you literally had to wait for four or five to go past before you could get on. Now most of the time you can get on the first bendy bus, though I concur it's a bit of a squeeze. While a seat would be nice, getting from A to B in a timely fashion is more important to me tbh.

My suspicion is that if you ask the majority of the public, fully aware that they pay some of the highest fares in Europe, they would say for the prices they pay they would like to travel in comfort. A city trying to prize people out of their cars by forcing them onto packed trains and buses isn't doing its job properly I think.

Imo the bendys are only good for transporting a lot of people over short distances. Something like the Red Arrows is perfect for this. Mostly rush hour passengers who need a short hop to a main line station who would probably be prepared to stand for a 10 minute odd journey. The problem with putting them on the 18 38 25 73 etc is that a lot of people commute on these buses into the centre of town as there isn't a rail equivalent. If this means squashing onto a packed bus for half an hour plus good luck to them if they evade their fares, I would too.

I just think this whole thing is 2nd hand car salesman management. In Hong Kong they use British built tri axle doube deckers - 120 odd seats plus another 30/40 standees with air conditioning. I believe Hong Kong also has one of the highest ratios of bus patronages per population in the world as a consequence.

 

[Harold Hill]

I agree. I still don't understand why such a major road only has one bus route.

Used to about 20 years ago I think. If Crossrail is built then I doubt it will ever happen.

 

[liberty]

they seem to terminate before they reach victoria, presumably because of the increased duration of the journey.

Not great if your wanting to go to Victoria then

 

[JWH]

TfL rebuilt Vicky bus station last year, presumably to accommodate bendies.

 

[PacificOcean]

I got a bendy N25 home last night (although it's not a "N" anymore just a 25, are they going to drop the N tag from all night buses?) and standing on that middle bit going round corners while drunk is great fun.

For that reason alone, bendy buses rule!

 

[mrspoon]

no way!

Stand by the swipescreens, with oyster in hand... see an inspector? swipe the card... don't see an inspector? free travel!!!!!! result!

i love the free (oops i meant bendy) buses.

 

[Isambard]

Imo the bendys are only good for transporting a lot of people over short distances.

BINGO! I have been saying this on these threads for MONTHS.

There is nothing wrong with bendy buses in themselves and yes they CAN operate in cities with small streets! the fact is that in European cities for which they were designed people tend to travel a (say) maximum of four of five stops and change modes.

Britain, becasue of the way cash fares work (though this should surely chancge with Travelcards that the majority of London passengers use) tends towards through journeys.

I think it was a mistake the way 101 new direct routes in London sprouted out of the ground, people need to get used to changing at co-ordinated transport nodes.

 

[liberty]

Stand by the swipescreens, with oyster in hand... see an inspector? swipe the card... don't see an inspector? free travel!!!!!! result!

i love the free (oops i meant bendy) buses.

That's what I thought
(mrspoon I promise the CD will be done this weekend myself and oicur0t have quite a lot on out plate at the moment but will do it then )

 

[tom k&e]

I got a bendy N25 home last night (although it's not a "N" anymore just a 25, are they going to drop the N tag from all night buses?) and standing on that middle bit going round corners while drunk is great fun.

When the night bus and normal bus routes are the same, they're dropping the N designation & just running the bus 24 hours. Where the N route is different (a lot of them are extended beyond their normal termini) they'll be keeping them as N buses.