London Banter - View Single Post - Route 73

Paul Corfield · September 15th 04, 10:25 AM posted to uk.transport.london

On Wed, 15 Sep 2004 01:04 +0100 (BST), (Colin
Rosenstiel) wrote:

In article ,
(david) wrote:

Around midday today (14 Sept) I spotted a convoy of *four* 73s
crawling down Gower Street. The first was completely packed out, the
following three practically empty. The drivers of the empty ones were
clearly looking to overtake but seemed unable to do so, thanks to
traffic levels and so on.

I hate to think of what goes on further down the line (particularly
the right turn from Bloomsbury onto New Oxford St. which seems to be
clogged up at the best of times).

Precisely. They're building a bus gate in Gower Street. Wouldn't they have
done better not to hatch off one lane just beyond those lights? When I was
on a (Routemaster) 73 the other day we couldn't get into the right turn
bus lane there because the entrance was blocked as a result of their only
being two traffic lanes at the entrance. :-(

I had a similar experience with a bendy - firstly we really struggled to
get across the lanes of traffic having stopped at the stop just before
the bus gate. Then there was a van parked in the right hand bus lane but
the bendybus driver opted to stay in the middle lane to give himself
enough space to swing right into New Oxford St. They're not going to be
able to do that on a permanent basis given how bad the traffic can get
at that junction - buses will end up being delayed all the time or else
there'll be an accident as a result of someone getting impatient.
--
Paul C

Admits to working for London Underground!