I've always liked them. Even when they spontaneously combusted.
I don't completely agree with the assumption that they attract fare
evaders, mainly because unlike other buses, you only have to be seen
to pay if you have a Saver ticket or Oyster Prepay. So people like me
who use them regularly never swipe because my Oyster card is loaded
with an Annual travelcard.

I've also been on numerous buses, from 6am in the morning to past 11pm
where ticket inspectors have boarded - and in many cases every single
person on board has had a valid ticket. The occasions where someone
didn't have a ticket where no more than on double deckers. I think
that the free travel for kids is potentially more damaging (and again,
only because of a minority) and I really think it should be limited to
transport to and from school.

The Evening Standard has a well publicised dislike of Bendys, but
reading their articles on them, comparing them to Routemasters and
more traditional buses, (the article on Routemasters was describing a
completely different kind of journey experience!) made me realise that
the writers had never travelled on any of them. Still, lets not let
the facts get in the way of the story.

That said, I would like conductors to be brought back.


On 3 Oct, 19:34, (Neil Williams) wrote:
On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:37:16 -0700, MIG
wrote:

I think bendy buses are WRONG in every way, but I have actually met
one person who likes them.

I like them, in the right role. Their role is in a European-style bus
system, whose primary purpose is to move very large numbers of people
to and from the rapid transit rail station nearest to their
destination/origin.

That makes them suitable, IMO, for very busy Central London services
(e.g. Oxford St) and for the Red Arrows, but not really for anything
very long-distance.

As for deckers, there are good ones and bad ones. IMO, the latest
Wright design is good, but most others I've seen are unmitigated crap.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

I like them too. For high frequency routes to areas badly served by
the tube - 38, 73, 453 - they're very handy.



On Oct 3, 9:56 am, Boltar wrote:
Theres been the usual talking heads and waffle on local radio and in
the papers about getting rid of bendy buses again after another one
caught fire. Flammability aside I rather like them. They hoover up the
passengers , theres usual plenty of room , boarding is easy , they
have a nice ride and at the front are rather quiet.

A better question would be - who the hell thought double deckers were
ever a good idea? Apart from taking up less roadspace do they have a
single redeeming feature? They're difficult to board , cramped
inside , the stairs are a nightmare especially if the driver moves off
before you've finished climbing them and 2 people toppled onto you.
The top deck half the time is full of scowling youths at the back, its
low , hot in the sun and sways around a lot and you're always at risk
from a braindead driver and low bridge/tree combination. I can't stand
them.

B2003

No, you're not the only person.

A lot of pickpockets, fare-evaders, illegal immigants and other anti-
social scum, from all sections of London's "communities" (including
good 'ole indigenous chav - albeit with a perfected Jamaican accent)
love them too.

Doesn't leave much room for the ordinary decent fare-paying passenger
though...

On Oct 3, 10:54 am, wrote:
No, you're not the only person.

A lot of pickpockets, fare-evaders, illegal immigants and other anti-
social scum, from all sections of London's "communities" (including
good 'ole indigenous chav - albeit with a perfected Jamaican accent)
love them too.

You mean the ones left over after the rest of their mates have gone to
sit on the top deck of a double decker smoking spliffs and idley
playing with flick knives?

B2003

On Oct 3, 12:19 pm, Boltar wrote:
On Oct 3, 10:54 am, wrote:

No, you're not the only person.

A lot of pickpockets, fare-evaders, illegal immigants and other anti-
social scum, from all sections of London's "communities" (including
good 'ole indigenous chav - albeit with a perfected Jamaican accent)
love them too.

You mean the ones left over after the rest of their mates have gone to
sit on the top deck of a double decker smoking spliffs and idley
playing with flick knives?

B2003

YES! but on a d/d I avoid them as I stay downstairs. Also the need to
pay/show some form of pass deterred a lot. Ken's free travel for the
supposed under-16's has largely removed that benefit alas, so it seems
TFL gets you either way now.

Boltar wrote:
Theres been the usual talking heads and waffle on local radio and in
the papers about getting rid of bendy buses again after another one
caught fire. Flammability aside I rather like them. They hoover up the
passengers , theres usual plenty of room , boarding is easy , they
have a nice ride and at the front are rather quiet.

A better question would be - who the hell thought double deckers were
ever a good idea? Apart from taking up less roadspace do they have a
single redeeming feature? They're difficult to board , cramped
inside , the stairs are a nightmare especially if the driver moves off
before you've finished climbing them and 2 people toppled onto you.
The top deck half the time is full of scowling youths at the back, its
low , hot in the sun and sways around a lot and you're always at risk
from a braindead driver and low bridge/tree combination. I can't stand
them.


I think they're ok too, don't see the problem except perhaps their
reputation as 'free buses'.

The modern double deckers are fine, the routemasters on the other hand
were too cramped to be comfortable

In article . com,
(Boltar) wrote:

Theres been the usual talking heads and waffle on local radio and in
the papers about getting rid of bendy buses again after another one
caught fire. Flammability aside I rather like them. They hoover up the
passengers , theres usual plenty of room , boarding is easy , they
have a nice ride and at the front are rather quiet.

A better question would be - who the hell thought double deckers were
ever a good idea? Apart from taking up less roadspace do they have a
single redeeming feature? They're difficult to board , cramped
inside , the stairs are a nightmare especially if the driver moves off
before you've finished climbing them and 2 people toppled onto you.
The top deck half the time is full of scowling youths at the back, its
low , hot in the sun and sways around a lot and you're always at risk
from a braindead driver and low bridge/tree combination. I can't stand
them.

As a cyclist I hate them. They are too long for the roads.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

In message ,
Colin Rosenstiel writes

As a cyclist I hate them. They are too long for the roads.

As a cyclist, I have had no problems with them.

Then again, I tend to respect red lights, road laws and other traffic
(I'm not saying you don't of course, but ymmv).
--
Steve Fitzgerald has now left the building.
You will find him in London's Docklands, E16, UK
(please use the reply to address for email)

On Oct 3, 6:08 pm, Steve Fitzgerald ] wrote:
In message ,
Colin Rosenstiel writes

As a cyclist I hate them. They are too long for the roads.

As a cyclist, I have had no problems with them.

Then again, I tend to respect red lights, road laws and other traffic
(I'm not saying you don't of course, but ymmv).

Bendy bus drivers don't or can't, unfortunately.

I am starting to take photographs of them when they park on pedestrian
crossings and so on, showing their yellow number.

In article ,
Colin Rosenstiel wrote:
As a cyclist I hate them. They are too long for the roads.

It's not just cyclists:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7035041.stm reports that
a man was dragged under one for a mile(!).

--
Shenanigans! Shenanigans! Best of 3!
-- Flash