Bendy Buses in Inner London

[Brainaddict]

You just have to sit/stand near to the oyster reader, so when the ticket inspectors get on you can quickly tap in.

Yeah, I didn't actually have any credit on my card

Don't spose you know how many people a Berlin double decker takes? It must be more than London ones.

 

[jæd]

I'm not a fan of them, but I have to say out of all the issues in the mayoral election, "bendy buses" comes slightly above "how many kids Ken Livingstone has" and slightly below "Boris Johnson's haircut" in terms of importance.

Well... I see they as a symptom of Ken's lack of touch with Londoners. Everyone I know dislikes them. For a bus thats on a minority of routes they cause more than their share of problems...!

 

[Thora]

Yeah, I didn't actually have any credit on my card

Don't spose you know how many people a Berlin double decker takes? It must be more than London ones.

No idea, but they are defo bigger than London buses - they have two sets of stairs for one thing.

 

[RedRumsBum]

I thought they were free too, then got nabbed by the ticket nazis on one the other day

I miss the view from the top deck too - and top decks are always more civilised cos people aren't allowed to stand and block the aisles. The main advantage of the bendy buses seems to be increased capacity but Berlin has double deckers that are longer than our double deckers - they must have a similar capacity to the bendys. Why can't we get those?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Doppeldeckerbus_dreiachsig_BVG.jpg

Obviously ours would be red

Those Berlin double deckers look well tasty, *but* how would it do on London's streets? Don't get me wrong, I hope they are trialled for use in London, but they might not be suitable on some or even a lot of routes. I know that they would certainly be useful on the X (Express) routes or on the large routes that follow just the main roads.

 

[BarryB]

mrs belboid just pointed out that we had them in sheffield too, for about five minutes. Then they got rid of them cos they couldn't go round corners very well. We never had any problems with getting too hot tho, funnily enough.

Ive been in Lisbon recently where they too have bendy buses. At times they are very crowded but they too dont get too hot. Mind you where possible I used the old fashioned trams.

BarryB

 

[Harold Hill]

Those Berlin double deckers look well tasty, *but* how would it do on London's streets? Don't get me wrong, I hope they are trialled for use in London, but they might not be suitable on some or even a lot of routes. I know that they would certainly be useful on the X (Express) routes or on the large routes that follow just the main roads.

You have sightseeing buses in London that length already and they are widespread in Hong Kong where the roads are the same as ours.

 

[durruti02]

cattle trucks .. horrible .. they were bought to save money on conductors and to pack more people in .. ironically most people don't pay!

it was said also they were better for wheel chairs .. atually they are not cos the driver can not see what is going on at the back end of the bus half the time and anyway new double decker busses have been wheel chair friendly for many years

and they put people off cycling! and block up roads etc etc etc

 

[dream_girl]

I always feel sick when I ride on them, can never get a seat, and it's usually way too hot.

They are very dangerous for cyclists - a large part of this might be the drivers' attitude, but if they come around you and then turn left then you are left trapped in a very dangerous situation. And drivers seem not to be trained to recognise this.

The last time this happened to me I complained and the driver said - unbelieveably - I shouldn't have been there!!

 

[KeyboardJockey]

Get rid of bendy buses. (I wonder how much silver from the manufacturers crossed either Livingstone or Livingstones cronies palms to get the OK for their use in London.)

More double deckers and bring back conductors.

 

[belboid]

you accusing KL of being bribed now? Interesting, lets hope his legal team dont see it

 

[KeyboardJockey]

you accusing KL of being bribed now? Interesting, lets hope his legal team dont see it

I did say 'or his cronies' Someone must have made this disaterous decision to introduce bendy buses I just think that there shoudl be an investigation to ensure that there was no impropriety on the part of the current mayor or his cronies. After all KL's judgement is in question after the Lee Jasper situation.

 

[belboid]

dear god, you can be a right pathetic sod.

No doubt good old Boris would never do anything as 'dodgy'

 

[KeyboardJockey]

dear god, you can be a right pathetic sod.

No doubt good old Boris would never do anything as 'dodgy'

I have no illusions about Boris. Its just he stands the best chance of unseating Livingslime.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

They are silly.

For a start they physically use up more space. Central Londons streets are not really big enough for them imo (there are some exceptions to that)

.

TFL had to spend millions moving street furniture for them.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Bendy buses are probibly the one thing on the road that I genienly fear. Getting caught on a left turning by a bendy bus is a pretty uncomfortable experiance as a cyclist. I am suprised they have not killed anyone yet.

They have.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I don't like bendy buses much and I'm minded to agree with those who say they should be replaced with conventional double-deckers running a slightly higher frequency service, but tbh I think all the debate over them in the media is a little out of proportion. They're not that big an issue, surely?

I'm no fan but replacing them now with a new custom built routemaster is going to make all of your council taxes skyrocket. TFL spent a fortune on the bendy buses, I'm pretty sure they didn't even get a good bulk deal or anything.

 

[Guineveretoo]

I did say 'or his cronies' Someone must have made this disaterous decision to introduce bendy buses I just think that there shoudl be an investigation to ensure that there was no impropriety on the part of the current mayor or his cronies. After all KL's judgement is in question after the Lee Jasper situation.

This is nonsense!

(IMHO, of course)