London: Are you for or against the bendy buses?

Question

By 2011 they will be gone. Aren't there more important things Boris Johnson should be dealing with than bendy buses?

Answer 1

When I think of London buses I think of Routemasters. They seem to go so well with the feel of the city ,they are nicer to be on and nicer to look at. I can't really think of any aspect where I'd prefer the Bendy Bus and they seem to be worse when it comes to disabled access or pedestrian safety.



I think Boris Johnson has done the right thing by getting shot of them, it seems like a no brainer to me. There probably is other things he should be dealing with but who's to say he isn't getting on with those as well.

Personally I hope his next move is to scrap the congestion charge (lets be honest it's just another stealth tax).

Answer 2

Most of the people you see 'not paying' would actually have some sort of pass, but yes fare evasion is high. Total cashless boarding on ALL buses is an aspiration of TfL, so the bendis are just the first stage. There is nothing inherently wrong with articulated buses. They have been commonplace in many parts of Europe for a long time. In theory there is nothing wrong with them here, but in practice the frequency has been thinned out too much when artics have been introduced. This has caused overcrowding - not the bus itself. Perhaps more of a problem is the sheer size of the bus which has caused congestion and has meant that many stops have had to be re-sited, often causing inconvenience. Abroad there tends to be less traffic congestion and for there to be many more straight, broad avenues for such buses to go down! There are currently no plans to introduce any more artics - I think that says a lot! The general slagging-off of Routemasters in the reply above is a bit harsh - and isn't really a reply to the question asked. Most people given a choice between one of these 'museum pieces' and any sort of new bus, now matter how 'disabled friendly' would choose the museum piece every time. And don't get me going on straight staircases! The staircase on a Routemaster is MUCH safer than a straight one.

Answer 3

Hell yeah I'm against.

Riding along on a push bike in central London is pretty dangerous anyway, but with bendy buses you have to be even more careful. And for once I'm not talking about buses carving you up as a cyclist; I'm talking about the fact that the driver can't see you.



I must admit that I do get slightly scared if I cycle past one parked at the side of the road, and as I'm passing it sticks it's indicators on and starts pulling away. Despite the driver using his mirrors, the buses are too long and he still can't see me. Nightmare. I'll cycle more once they're removed.



FYI, they removed the Waterloo to Victoria route yesterday! Score one for the public! The bendy bus was not one of Ken's best ideas, and although one year on I still laugh when I think of Boris as Mayor, he's done a good deed there by removing them.

Answer 4

I live in London and I was born and raised here and I frankly couldn't care less what the buses look like. I think scraping them for safety is one thing but but making the new buses look like old buses, WHY? Have we nothing better to care about? I like the idea of eco-buses, but I hope time and money wasn't wasted on making them look like a routemaster. There are a few routemasters that do the tourist routes so if you want to see them, get the photo and have a ride you can, that's all we need.



Also someone mentioned scrapping the congestion charge. NO THANK YOU, I love the lack of weekly traffic, it has has improved central areas dramatically. I would like to see a ban on Chelsea Tractors as well, as a little congestion charge makes no difference to them!

Answer 5

Against.

Bendy buses are the worst thing that's been invented. London has a lot of traffic and then Livingstone brought out a vehicle which is double the length of a normal bus. We should have just kept with the double deckers. If those others were too old, they should have been replaced with a newer one.



And secondly, they are dangerous. They've cause so many accidents. They have caught on fire and they can't turn around most of London's street corners.



At least Boris has more sense than Livingstone. And they will be replaced with the famous Routemasters.

Answer 6

Did you notice something about the bendy bus? On the day of it's final departure not a single Londoner turned up to bid it farewell. Silence of the people, says it all.



I'm not interested in what non-Londoners have to say, I'm a Londoner born and bred and the worst thing ever was the end of the fabulous London Routemaster and it's replacement, the Bendy Bus - the dream of a Communist Mayor, Red Ken Livingstone.



The Routemaster Bus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6gKK1epoJA



Boris Johnson, in his political campaign to become Mayor of London, made a promise to bring back the Routemaster - a modern version of same. Londoners in their millions voted for him, not just because of that promise, but also for other reasons.



Boris (Bojo) is doing what us Londoners want. He is already getting rid of the dangerous (bursts into flames) bendy bus to replace with a hydrogen fuelled bus and eventually we will get a replacement for the Routemaster - something you can hop on and hop off from during the slow drag up Oxford Street while out shopping etc.



Londoner since 1941.



Boris, bring back the Routemaster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6gKK1epoJA



The proposed replacement - the New Routemaster for London

http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2007/12/bus_664x450.jpg



Designed for London by Londoners - bring it on.

Answer 7

Against. They are a danger and inconvenience to pedestrians trying to cross the road. What's wrong with picking off the 'low hanging fruit' when putting things right? It takes little time and few committees so things can actually happen. Just because he's a buffoon doesn't mean he can't ask some of the right questions and make some of the right decisions. Good on you, Boris.

Answer 8

Against

Answer 9

I live in York and we only have a few of them. I hate them, they are a total nightmare. Thank God Im starting driving soon, yay :). I think London has too much of them, they are really ugly as well, bad for traffic and more dangerous. Good thing he wants to get rid of them.

Answer 10

I don't see whats THAT wrong with them really. They spent all that money on them all a few years ago, and now they are getting rid of them? The point in it? Well there is no real point. I like them. That are like a bus and a half, which is better :)

Answer 11

Against them totally, They are dangerous and cause more congestion.

Boris is dealing with a whole range of things.

Answer 12

they are ok you never get a seat though! bring back the jump on jump off's



but i suggest you ask that question of someone who has been waiting for one for 20 kins in freezing weather while its raining.



I think your answers might change

Answer 13

I'm for them - they're FREE!!!! I've never had to buy a ticket!!