On 27 Jun 2006 10:55:19 -0700, wrote:

Has London ever had any bus routes whose outer terminal operates on the
basis of a "loop" say round a big housing scheme perhaps with some
journeys going clockwise and others anticlockwise round the loop? I
suspect not because such "frying-pan" shaped routes don't tend to lend
themselves to having sufficient layover time to recover from
London-type congestion delays. Maybe some of the services which don't
venture into Central London run on this basis?

There are not any I can think of that run from Central London. However
the 379 does a loop at Yardley Lane Estate from Chingford.

http://www.busmap.org/tt4/379.pdf

Both the H2 and H3 (Hampstead Garden Suburb routes) are "loopy" to coin
your phrase.

The 366 is loopy at the Redbridge end of the route with passengers being
able to get on and off the loop and stay on the bus at Redbridge Stn
while it takes layover time before heading off towards Ilford.

http://www.busmap.org/tt4/366.pdf

The 499 gets "loopy" near Becontree on its way back to Romford.

http://www.busmap.org/tt4/499.pdf

The other interesting loop routes are the B15 at Joydens Wood which goes
different ways round a loop in the morning and afternoon.

http://www.busmap.org/tt4/B15.pdf

The other one that alternates round a loop is the R5 - once every 2
hours.

http://www.busmap.org/tt4/R05.pdf

HTH as a sample.

--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!