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Moir Lockhead, Routemasters and the bendy bus
Read in the Lite today that Moir Lockhead is warning Boris about the
plan to reintroduce Routemasters - and is trying to peddle him the "ftr", which is, umm, a glorified bendy bus. Will First never learn? In my experience, their buses in London are some of the oldest, dirtiest and most poorly-maintained. Not a good start. Neil -- Neil Williams Put my first name before the at to reply. |
Moir Lockhead, Routemasters and the bendy bus
"Neil Williams" wrote: Read in the Lite today that Moir Lockhead is warning Boris about the plan to reintroduce Routemasters - and is trying to peddle him the "ftr", which is, umm, a glorified bendy bus. Will First never learn? In my experience, their buses in London are some of the oldest, dirtiest and most poorly-maintained. Not a good start. He also said that bus passengers and operators like the bendies - it's other road users (ie cabbies and cyclists, I guess) who detest them. Now the election is over, I fully expect this 'new Routemaster' stuff to be quietly shelved. This would represent the biggest U-turn since.....well......Ken promised never to scrap the Routemaster! Chris |
Moir Lockhead, Routemasters and the bendy bus
On May 14, 8:53*pm, "Chris Read" wrote:
"Neil Williams" wrote: Read in the Lite today that Moir Lockhead is warning Boris about the plan to reintroduce Routemasters - and is trying to peddle him the "ftr", which is, umm, a glorified bendy bus. Will First never learn? *In my experience, their buses in London are some of the oldest, dirtiest and most poorly-maintained. *Not a good start. He also said that bus passengers and operators like the bendies - it's other road users (ie cabbies and cyclists, I guess) who detest them. No, he is just wrong. Most passengers don't like them either, and I can't believe it's much fun for the drivers except if they are paid more for coping with them. Operators may like the idea of not having to collect fares, but that is independent of the shape of the bus. And don't forget pedestrians, whose crossings are constantly blocked by them. Now the election is over, I fully expect this 'new Routemaster' stuff to be quietly shelved. This would represent the biggest U-turn since.....well......Ken promised never to scrap the Routemaster! But why should we accept that the choice is between bendys and Routemasters? I'm sure I remember a few generations of other designs in between and since ... |
Moir Lockhead, Routemasters and the bendy bus
"Chris Read" wrote in message
"Neil Williams" wrote: Read in the Lite today that Moir Lockhead is warning Boris about the plan to reintroduce Routemasters - and is trying to peddle him the "ftr", which is, umm, a glorified bendy bus. Will First never learn? In my experience, their buses in London are some of the oldest, dirtiest and most poorly-maintained. Not a good start. He also said that bus passengers and operators like the bendies - it's other road users (ie cabbies and cyclists, I guess) who detest them. Now the election is over, I fully expect this 'new Routemaster' stuff to be quietly shelved. This would represent the biggest U-turn since.....well......Ken promised never to scrap the Routemaster! I don't think it was just a campaign slogan -- Boris is a cyclist who nurses a personal hatred for bendy buses. It's why it was just about the first policy he was able to articulate, quite a while ago, long before he was supplied with a complete manifesto. While we're not likely to get anything that resembles a good old RM (unless he actually gets some of them back from the scrapyard), I think he really does want to get the bendies off London's streets. |
Moir Lockhead, Routemasters and the bendy bus
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Moir Lockhead, Routemasters and the bendy bus
MIG wrote:
No, he is just wrong. Most passengers don't like them either, and I can't believe it's much fun for the drivers except if they are paid more for coping with them. Operators may like the idea of not having to collect fares, but that is independent of the shape of the bus. And don't forget pedestrians, whose crossings are constantly blocked by them. Constantly? Where? Personally, they're just a bloody bus, I don't detest or like them any more than any other bus and regard the way whole furore became the only transport issue ever debated as completely inexplicable. My gut feeling is that the bendies will be put out to pasture when their natural life is up, which may be from about 2012 onwards (I'm assuming average bus life in London as being about ten years, but bendies serving intensive routes may tire faster and I doubt there's a political appetite for spending cash on refurbishment). The replacements should be trams which have the advantages of high capacity and speed of boarding and add greater attraction to switching motorists zero local emissions. The replacements will probably be large numbers of conventional double deckers. Tom |
Moir Lockhead, Routemasters and the bendy bus
On Wed, 14 May 2008 13:20:18 -0700 (PDT), MIG
wrote: On May 14, 8:53*pm, "Chris Read" wrote: "Neil Williams" wrote: Read in the Lite today that Moir Lockhead is warning Boris about the plan to reintroduce Routemasters - and is trying to peddle him the "ftr", which is, umm, a glorified bendy bus. Will First never learn? *In my experience, their buses in London are some of the oldest, dirtiest and most poorly-maintained. *Not a good start. He also said that bus passengers and operators like the bendies - it's other road users (ie cabbies and cyclists, I guess) who detest them. No, he is just wrong. Most passengers don't like them either, and I can't believe it's much fun for the drivers except if they are paid more for coping with them. I don't think anyone honestly knows what passengers think about bendy buses. People from both sides of the debate cling to bits of comment, political campaigns and anything else that gets said to justify their respective positions. I think I've read ever possible "for and against" argument there is. I like bendy buses and I think they do have a role in a busy bus network like London's. I don't expect many here to agree with me but hey! Operators may like the idea of not having to collect fares, but that is independent of the shape of the bus. I don't think London operators care very much one way or the other as they are simply contractors. TfL pick up the tab overall - the operators only really carry the day to day safety and operational risks. Farebox revenue risk is with TfL. Now the election is over, I fully expect this 'new Routemaster' stuff to be quietly shelved. This would represent the biggest U-turn since.....well......Ken promised never to scrap the Routemaster! But why should we accept that the choice is between bendys and Routemasters? I'm sure I remember a few generations of other designs in between and since ... Well yes there have been intermediate designs over the years but how many have lasted a full term in use and not been subject to political shenanigans at some point? I'm struggling to think of one - London seems to be cursed in having "controversial" bus designs every 10 years or so that are promoted one minute and scrapped the next. What's the bet that hybrids are the next victim of that trend. Replacement Routemaster vs Bendy Buses have completed Scene One of their great stage act; I dare say we'll move on to Scene Two fairly soon. -- Paul C Admits to working for London Underground! |
Moir Lockhead, Routemasters and the bendy bus
"MIG" wrote: Chris Read wrote: He also said that bus passengers and operators like the bendies - it's other road users (ie cabbies and cyclists, I guess) who detest them. No, he is just wrong. Most passengers don't like them either, and I can't believe it's much fun for the drivers except if they are paid more for coping with them. I like them, but I'm primarily a 'Red Arrow' user, for which routes they are well suited. I haven't noticed a huge clamour to bring back the Leyland Nationals with plastic seats. IIRC, the drivers are paid more. And don't forget pedestrians, whose crossings are constantly blocked by them. Hardly any drivers observe crossing courtesies in London. In my view, bendy drivers are amongst the smoothest and most courteous of bus drivers in London. But why should we accept that the choice is between bendys and Routemasters? I'm sure I remember a few generations of other designs in between and since ... Agreed. But no more Tridents, please........ Chris |
Moir Lockhead, Routemasters and the bendy bus
On Wed, 14 May 2008, MIG wrote:
On May 14, 8:53*pm, "Chris Read" wrote: "Neil Williams" wrote: Read in the Lite today that Moir Lockhead is warning Boris about the plan to reintroduce Routemasters - and is trying to peddle him the "ftr", which is, umm, a glorified bendy bus. He also said that bus passengers and operators like the bendies - it's other road users (ie cabbies and cyclists, I guess) who detest them. No, he is just wrong. Most passengers don't like them either, Surveys say otherwise. tom -- THE DRUMMER FROM DEF LEPPARD'S ONLY GOT ONE ARM! |
Moir Lockhead, Routemasters and the bendy bus
Recliner wrote:
While we're not likely to get anything that resembles a good old RM (unless he actually gets some of them back from the scrapyard) Whose idea was it to paint an RM in brown and silver (RM 1933 IIRC)? I saw it today and nearly vomited! |
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