Full marks to the London Bus Page for telling it like it is. Firstly,
Ken's disgraceful about-turn on the notion of RM retention which he was
elected on, and secondly that bendi-buses are bringing the standards of
the Third World to London. I can't see how, for example, a 25 bus can
now be deemed 'accessible' to anyone living on the middle of the route
(like me!) when almost every bus, whether heading east or west, arrives
crush-loaded worse than a Tube in rush hour since 'free' travel was
introduced. I often travelled off-peak on the 25 and was almost always
able to get a seat downstairs, now buses are arriving full at 0600 in
the morning and 2200 at night! And we're paying for all these
freeloaders via our Council Tax! The last time I saw ticket inspectors
at work - about 9 months ago - the bus arrived at Bow Church and
promptly changed drivers with all doors left often. Needless to say,
seeing the group of six white males in blue trousers, fleeces and white
shirts carrying notebooks preparing to board, four passengers simply
got off to wait for the next bus. Obvious to me, but seemingly
oblivious to the inspectors! OK this debate has been done-to-death, but
the bendies are destined to go down as a short ill-starred abberation,
like the standeed MBS's of the late-60s which were equally hated. Nor I
can't see a Tory Mayor putting up with TfL's Economics of the Madhouse
for very long.