They were/are both talking rubbish. There isn't going to be a 'new Routemaster.' There might be a new bus with some sort of nod to the old one, but it won't be anything like it and won't - can't - incorporate the features that were popular on the original. The Routemaster was a hugely successful piece of public-sector enterprise, and because it was an innovative, practical and reliable design it remained in service for a long time. But the time when buses were dual manned, wheelchair access did not have to be provided and people didn't sue if they fell off the open platform are gone, as is the overarching organisation by which the RM was designed and maintained. The world's moved on and it's left Routemaster-style buses behind. There won't be another one, and there's no good reason for TfL to spend a fortune on trying to design a new bespoke bus to look like one when it won't have anything that off-the-peg buses can't provide, probably a lot more cheaply.
Boris and the 'new' Routemaster (it'll be back "by 2011")
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ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
I am well aware of all this. I want to know what EU H&S rule Ken was quoting. I know 'real' bus designers are giving Boris' new bus a wide birth.
untethered
For industry & decency
Sounds painful.
Talkie Toaster
New Member
What is the point of bringing back the Routemaster? Is it merely so that people can throw themselves off buses into traffic at any time? 
What is the point of bringing back the Routemaster? Is it merely so that people can throw themselves off buses into traffic at any time?
It's so that public transport in London can be kept in the 20th century for the sake of some dewey eyed romantic bollocks
Talkie Toaster
New Member
I suppose Boris did promise to bring back the Routemaster as an election pledge, so fair play to that. Totally pointless though. Maybe that's why the prize is relatively low for the amount of work the redesign would be - gives him an easy get out when no suitable designs are submitted.
Bahnhof Strasse
Let's av ya fuckin' dancin'!
The winners
Joint winners:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7790082.stm
Sports car manufacturer Aston Martin is joint winner of a competition to design a new Routemaster bus for London.
The Warwickshire-based firm's winning entry was a team effort with leading architects Foster and Partners.
They share the £25,000 first prize with bus, coach and truck design firm Capoco Design, based in Wiltshire.
A Transport for London spokesman said the first of the greener and more accessible, hop-on hop-off, double-deckers could be in service by 2011.
Joint winners:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7790082.stm
Sports car manufacturer Aston Martin is joint winner of a competition to design a new Routemaster bus for London.
The Warwickshire-based firm's winning entry was a team effort with leading architects Foster and Partners.
They share the £25,000 first prize with bus, coach and truck design firm Capoco Design, based in Wiltshire.
A Transport for London spokesman said the first of the greener and more accessible, hop-on hop-off, double-deckers could be in service by 2011.
New Routemaster
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7790082.stm
not bad (i'd be amazed if it actually gets built)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7790082.stm
not bad (i'd be amazed if it actually gets built)
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
Bahnhof Strasse
Let's av ya fuckin' dancin'!
Andrew Hertford
Chocolate Jesus
I think the Aston Martin / Foster design is beautiful. Potential to become an icon. But is the silver 'grill' on the front just there to ape the old design or does it have a function?
untethered
For industry & decency
It looks like a toy bus, designed by and for small children.
I know that any new design (rightly) must have disabled access.
But is there actually a specific law or rule that forbids the open platform?
If so, what law? Links?
Or is it more a general feeling that "people will sue nowadays"?
I don't buy this. Passengers stand on rail platforms with nothing but their common sense to stop them jumping under a train. People cross busy roads - sometimes even when the green man is not lit. They don't sue the council if they get run over. People can judge risk, usually. We managed with open platform buses for generations, why accept this nannying, lets treat everyone like children attitude?
When you are on a bus stuck in slow moving London traffic, it is a waste of time to have to sit there for an extra 10 minutes til the bus crawls to the next stop so you can get off!
Even Ken was all in favour of the original Routemasters when he first got the Mayor job, then he suddenly changed his tune and blamed "regulations".
Giles..
But is there actually a specific law or rule that forbids the open platform?
If so, what law? Links?
Or is it more a general feeling that "people will sue nowadays"?
I don't buy this. Passengers stand on rail platforms with nothing but their common sense to stop them jumping under a train. People cross busy roads - sometimes even when the green man is not lit. They don't sue the council if they get run over. People can judge risk, usually. We managed with open platform buses for generations, why accept this nannying, lets treat everyone like children attitude?
When you are on a bus stuck in slow moving London traffic, it is a waste of time to have to sit there for an extra 10 minutes til the bus crawls to the next stop so you can get off!
Even Ken was all in favour of the original Routemasters when he first got the Mayor job, then he suddenly changed his tune and blamed "regulations".
Giles..
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is probably the most obvious one for an operator. All businesses have to carry out risk assessments etc, presumably this applies even more so to areas that members of the public have access to as well as staff. There are probably urbanites who know more about H&S legislation?
What the bus designers, manufacturers, GLA and TfL may be worried about is the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 which places a 'reasonable duty of care' on senior management for the way its activities are managed or organised to not cause a persons death. It could probably be argued that having open platforms fails this duty if someone falls off and dies, especially if its widely thought that the Routemasters were phased out originally due to safety issues?
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2007/pdf/ukpga_20070019_en.pdf
What the bus designers, manufacturers, GLA and TfL may be worried about is the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 which places a 'reasonable duty of care' on senior management for the way its activities are managed or organised to not cause a persons death. It could probably be argued that having open platforms fails this duty if someone falls off and dies, especially if its widely thought that the Routemasters were phased out originally due to safety issues?
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2007/pdf/ukpga_20070019_en.pdf
Tankus
Slowing down to a stop
If the Aston's 0 to 60mph is under 4 secs ..... it will resolve londons housing problem in one fell swoop ...... hop on ...hop off ..... splat ..guts ribs ....! ...good job its red ....stains will be less of an issue !
Ejector seat for the driver if he really F%@ks up ?...really spoil you day if your in the rt hnd front seats upstairs though .... needs a rethink ......
guns ...fer the bastard bikers in the bus lane ...yeah !
Ejector seat for the driver if he really F%@ks up ?...really spoil you day if your in the rt hnd front seats upstairs though .... needs a rethink ......
guns ...fer the bastard bikers in the bus lane ...yeah !
A Transport for London spokesman said the first of the greener and more accessible, hop-on hop-off, double-deckers could be in service by 2011.
Yeah. And I could run the London marathon in 2011. But I won't be.
editor
hiraethified
It looks like the Routemaster will be coming back soon - with the hop on/off platform intact! And there's talk of the bus being on the rod by 2011.
Oh yes
http://www.wirefresh.com/details-of-londons-new-routemaster-bus-released/
Oh yes
http://www.wirefresh.com/details-of-londons-new-routemaster-bus-released/
It's highly likely. Local Transport Funding will be hammered over the next few years due to cuts in Public Spending, effectively cutting the need for the staff that Councils will have needed to run these schemes (e.g. things like Bus Priority projects or the LCN). This money can then be used to plug holes or fund vanity projects (which seems to be the political thing to do at the moment - Superhighway anyone?).
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