The new Routemaster

[Bigsharn]

Considering the R&D that went into the completely new design, £1.4m each isn't a huge amount to spend IF they're sticking with the design for a fair while.

I'm in 2 minds in honesty, part of me thinks they should have designed it to get rid of the conductor, still being like the old ones in as many ways as possible, but part of me thinks that forward thinking ideas like this should be more commonplace.

Meh.

 

[srw]

One of the reasons given for getting rid of the bendy buses and replacing them with the new 'routemaster' was that fare evasion was a problem. Which could have been dealt with by providing conductors, just like on the new routemaster!

Or fewer than three doors, unlike the new routem...

Oh, hang on a moment.

 

[Mugshot]

Stan.

Ahhhhhhh, I see, thank you

 

[jonesy]

Did I miss something? I thought bendybusses were supposed to be the work of Stan?

Yes, according to the Evening Standard, various tabloid motoring correspondents, Boris and large numbers of armchair transport experts....

 

[Fab Foodie]

Yes, according to the Evening Standard, various tabloid motoring correspondents, Boris and large numbers of armchair transport experts....

Ahhhhh, and what about cyclists?

 

[snorri]

could take longer for the conductor to check both floors?

Mirrors col, it's all done with mirrors.

 

[col]

Mirrors col, it's all done with mirrors.

Mmm on reflection ?

 

[dellzeqq]

Ahhhhh, and what about cyclists?

neither here nor there. They didn't kill cyclists, and they carried a lot of people.

saw one of the new Routemasters outside Sadlers Wells yesterday. Guess what? It's a bus. It's red, it's got two floors, it's got windows. It's about the size that you expect buses to be. Did I say it was red? It's red. And incredibly expensive.

 

[Arch]

neither here nor there. They didn't kill cyclists, and they carried a lot of people.

They've knocked a few over here in York, and I'm sure there's been at least one death. Of course, I realise the people of York aren't as important as the people of London, but even so...

 

[dellzeqq]

They've knocked a few over here in York, and I'm sure there's been at least one death. Of course, I realise the people of York aren't as important as the people of London, but even so...

Send them back here if you don't want them.

And the difference is.........we have highly trained bus drivers, whose first priority is to see that no harm comes to cyclists and pedestrians.

 

[albion]

They've knocked a few over here in York, and I'm sure there's been at least one death. Of course, I realise the people of York aren't as important as the people of London, but even so...

Are cars still allowed in York?
Buses actually being HGVs which do seemingly cause the majority of deaths means the overall standard of London bus drivers is high.

 

[dellzeqq]

if memory serves there have been two cyclists killed by TfL buses in the last ten years (I'm afraid I happened on one of them in Clapham Junction, and it's not the kind of thing you can forget). For al its faults having a strong organisation in charge of buses means that driving standards are high. Sometimes I watch buses being driven in other parts of the country and I shudder.

 

[Arch]

Are cars still allowed in York?

Yes, sadly! Bendy buses are just extra lunacy though, in a tiny city with tiny streets and tight corners.

Fortunately, our bendy buses are all distinctive liveries, so you know straighaway if you're being overtaken by one...

 

[Bigsharn]

Yes, sadly! Bendy buses are just extra lunacy though, in a tiny city with tiny streets and tight corners.

Fortunately, our bendy buses are all distinctive liveries, so you know straighaway if you're being overtaken by one...

Problem is, the number 9 and 7 (standard length buses) both have a similar livery, and in the city centre it's not always easy to tell on a quick shoulder check

Been almost knocked off by a bendybus recently, pulled out on by them on more than once occasion, and been hit by two standard buses (one was my own fault, one was as a pedestrian). York City Centre is too big for anything longer than say... tandem bicycle towing a trailer length

 

[Headgardener]

I spent a week in York and the city centre was designed for a cart and one horse, to try and get anything bigger through it is sheer lunacy.