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Boltar October 3rd 07 08:56 AM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
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


MIG October 3rd 07 09:37 AM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On 3 Oct, 09:56, 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


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


[email protected] October 3rd 07 09:47 AM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
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




[email protected] October 3rd 07 09:54 AM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
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...


Boltar October 3rd 07 11:17 AM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On Oct 3, 10:37 am, MIG wrote:

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


Ok , so what exactly is wrong with them?

B2003




Boltar October 3rd 07 11:19 AM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
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



tim..... October 3rd 07 11:25 AM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 

"Boltar" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Oct 3, 10:37 am, MIG wrote:

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


Ok , so what exactly is wrong with them?


I was thinking exactly the same thing.

It can't be just because they are bendy, can it?

tim




MIG October 3rd 07 11:46 AM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On 3 Oct, 12:25, "tim....." wrote:
"Boltar" wrote in message

oups.com...

On Oct 3, 10:37 am, MIG wrote:


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


Ok , so what exactly is wrong with them?


I was thinking exactly the same thing.

It can't be just because they are bendy, can it?

tim



They may be ideal for airport transit in open spaces, but not for the
streets of London.

In general, buses could be a slower but more pleasant alternative to
the Underground, instead of which the slower alternative now has the
ambience of the Underground (standing in a long thing).

But more specifically

1) I almost always have to stand if I use them, because they have less
seats.

2) They add to the many hazards I face when cycling.

3) The constantly block pedestrian crossings.

4) They can't legally move into yellow box junctions that have less
than 18 m of space beyond, thereby holding up a queue of smaller
vehicles that could have done (or more likely just blocking it
anyway).

and any other bleedin obvious reasons why 18 m vehicles might not be
appropriate for the winding narrow streets of an old city.


Stuart October 3rd 07 11:51 AM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
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

tim..... October 3rd 07 12:11 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 

"MIG" wrote in message
ups.com...
On 3 Oct, 12:25, "tim....." wrote:
"Boltar" wrote in message

oups.com...

On Oct 3, 10:37 am, MIG wrote:


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


Ok , so what exactly is wrong with them?


I was thinking exactly the same thing.

It can't be just because they are bendy, can it?

tim



They may be ideal for airport transit in open spaces, but not for the
streets of London.

In general, buses could be a slower but more pleasant alternative to
the Underground, instead of which the slower alternative now has the
ambience of the Underground (standing in a long thing).

But more specifically

1) I almost always have to stand if I use them, because they have less
seats.

2) They add to the many hazards I face when cycling.

3) The constantly block pedestrian crossings.

4) They can't legally move into yellow box junctions that have less
than 18 m of space beyond, thereby holding up a queue of smaller
vehicles that could have done (or more likely just blocking it
anyway).

and any other bleedin obvious reasons why 18 m vehicles might not be
appropriate for the winding narrow streets of an old city.


Ah, so most of the people that you know who don't like them
are other road users and not passengers.

That is clear now.

tim




MIG October 3rd 07 12:22 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On 3 Oct, 13:11, "tim....." wrote:
"MIG" wrote in message

ups.com...





On 3 Oct, 12:25, "tim....." wrote:
"Boltar" wrote in message


groups.com...


On Oct 3, 10:37 am, MIG wrote:


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


Ok , so what exactly is wrong with them?


I was thinking exactly the same thing.


It can't be just because they are bendy, can it?


tim


They may be ideal for airport transit in open spaces, but not for the
streets of London.


In general, buses could be a slower but more pleasant alternative to
the Underground, instead of which the slower alternative now has the
ambience of the Underground (standing in a long thing).


But more specifically


1) I almost always have to stand if I use them, because they have less
seats.


2) They add to the many hazards I face when cycling.


3) The constantly block pedestrian crossings.


4) They can't legally move into yellow box junctions that have less
than 18 m of space beyond, thereby holding up a queue of smaller
vehicles that could have done (or more likely just blocking it
anyway).


and any other bleedin obvious reasons why 18 m vehicles might not be
appropriate for the winding narrow streets of an old city.


Ah, so most of the people that you know who don't like them
are other road users and not passengers.

That is clear now.



I was only writing for myself, but as a passenger I don't like them
because of having to stand, but in that situation I am indeed
insulated from the concerns of the pedestrians affected by the vehicle
that I am in.


Mr Thant October 3rd 07 01:13 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On Oct 3, 1:22 pm, MIG wrote:
I was only writing for myself, but as a passenger I don't like them
because of having to stand, but in that situation I am indeed
insulated from the concerns of the pedestrians affected by the vehicle
that I am in.


The reason you normally have to stand on a bendy is that they've only
been deployed on the busiest routes where you'd be standing regardless
of what bus they use - bendies only have a fraction fewer seats. And
no one who's stood on a double decker with more than a handful of
other people would volunteer to do it again.

U

--
http://londonconnections.blogspot.com/
A blog about transport projects in London


Tim Roll-Pickering October 3rd 07 01:29 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
Mr Thant wrote:

The reason you normally have to stand on a bendy is that they've only
been deployed on the busiest routes where you'd be standing regardless
of what bus they use - bendies only have a fraction fewer seats. And
no one who's stood on a double decker with more than a handful of
other people would volunteer to do it again.


Here we have both the bendy 25 and double decker 86 running between
Stratford and Ilford on the same route. And I'd much prefer to stand on the
86 than to stand on the 25 any day.



Colin Rosenstiel October 3rd 07 01:37 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
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

thoss October 3rd 07 01:37 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
At 04:46:41 on Wed, 3 Oct 2007 MIG opined:-

On 3 Oct, 12:25, "tim....." wrote:
"Boltar" wrote in message

oups.com...

On Oct 3, 10:37 am, MIG wrote:


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


Ok , so what exactly is wrong with them?


I was thinking exactly the same thing.

It can't be just because they are bendy, can it?

tim



They may be ideal for airport transit in open spaces, but not for the
streets of London.

In general, buses could be a slower but more pleasant alternative to
the Underground, instead of which the slower alternative now has the
ambience of the Underground (standing in a long thing).

But more specifically

1) I almost always have to stand if I use them, because they have less
seats.

2) They add to the many hazards I face when cycling.

3) The constantly block pedestrian crossings.

4) They can't legally move into yellow box junctions that have less
than 18 m of space beyond, thereby holding up a queue of smaller
vehicles that could have done (or more likely just blocking it
anyway).

and any other bleedin obvious reasons why 18 m vehicles might not be
appropriate for the winding narrow streets of an old city.

One of their advantages is said to be that, with all doors being used
for both entry and exit, they are quicker to load. Couldn't this be
done also with double-deckers?


MIG October 3rd 07 01:57 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On 3 Oct, 14:29, "Tim Roll-Pickering"
wrote:
Mr Thant wrote:
The reason you normally have to stand on a bendy is that they've only
been deployed on the busiest routes where you'd be standing regardless
of what bus they use - bendies only have a fraction fewer seats. And
no one who's stood on a double decker with more than a handful of
other people would volunteer to do it again.


Here we have both the bendy 25 and double decker 86 running between
Stratford and Ilford on the same route. And I'd much prefer to stand on the
86 than to stand on the 25 any day.


I would similarly prefer the 24 to the 29 and the 53 to the 453. I
know I'm not alone in that.


John B October 3rd 07 02:03 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On 3 Oct, 14:57, MIG wrote:
The reason you normally have to stand on a bendy is that they've only
been deployed on the busiest routes where you'd be standing regardless
of what bus they use - bendies only have a fraction fewer seats. And
no one who's stood on a double decker with more than a handful of
other people would volunteer to do it again.


Here we have both the bendy 25 and double decker 86 running between
Stratford and Ilford on the same route. And I'd much prefer to stand on the
86 than to stand on the 25 any day.


I would similarly prefer the 24 to the 29 and the 53 to the 453. I
know I'm not alone in that.


I prefer, and regularly chose when I lived in the area, to stand on
the 29 than any of the also-standing-room-only deckers on the Finsbury
Park-Camden corridor. Deckers are too narrow for standing and the
perpetual front-to-back passenger flow is very annoying if you're
going more than a couple of stops.

[also at Thoss - bendies have more doors than deckers. Unless you're
going to turn the entire bottom deck into doors, which is a bit
pointless, then you simply can't get the same passenger throughput]

--
John Band
john at johnband dot org
www.johnband.org


Tom Anderson October 3rd 07 02:09 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On Wed, 3 Oct 2007, thoss wrote:

One of their advantages is said to be that, with all doors being used
for both entry and exit, they are quicker to load. Couldn't this be
done also with double-deckers?


You've still got the stairs in a double-decker, though, so you just move
the bottleneck.

tom

--
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by
stupidity -- Hanlon's Razor

Tom Anderson October 3rd 07 02:13 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On Wed, 3 Oct 2007, 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.


I don't mind them. In light loads, i prefer double-deckers, because you
can sit up top and have a nice view. In heavy loads, bendies are better
because they're easier to get on and off, and they don't stop for as long.

That's with my passenger hat on, anyway. With my cyclist hat on, they're
massive obstructions, and at worst, terrifying mobile deathtraps.

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?


No, but that one feature is good enough - 50% more people in the same
area = win.

Double-decker bendies are the future, i reckon.

tom

--
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by
stupidity -- Hanlon's Razor

MIG October 3rd 07 03:01 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On 3 Oct, 15:03, John B wrote:
On 3 Oct, 14:57, MIG wrote:

The reason you normally have to stand on a bendy is that they've only
been deployed on the busiest routes where you'd be standing regardless
of what bus they use - bendies only have a fraction fewer seats. And
no one who's stood on a double decker with more than a handful of
other people would volunteer to do it again.


Here we have both the bendy 25 and double decker 86 running between
Stratford and Ilford on the same route. And I'd much prefer to stand on the
86 than to stand on the 25 any day.


I would similarly prefer the 24 to the 29 and the 53 to the 453. I
know I'm not alone in that.


I prefer, and regularly chose when I lived in the area, to stand on
the 29 than any of the also-standing-room-only deckers on the Finsbury
Park-Camden corridor. Deckers are too narrow for standing and the
perpetual front-to-back passenger flow is very annoying if you're
going more than a couple of stops.

[also at Thoss - bendies have more doors than deckers. Unless you're
going to turn the entire bottom deck into doors, which is a bit
pointless, then you simply can't get the same passenger throughput]




Well, I only responded in the first place to say that I HAVE met
someone who likes them. Obviously there are one or two here as well
who like them.

But I really don't.


[email protected] October 3rd 07 03:42 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On Oct 3, 2:13 pm, Mr Thant
wrote:
On Oct 3, 1:22 pm, MIG wrote:

I was only writing for myself, but as a passenger I don't like them
because of having to stand, but in that situation I am indeed
insulated from the concerns of the pedestrians affected by the vehicle
that I am in.


The reason you normally have to stand on a bendy is that they've only
been deployed on the busiest routes where you'd be standing regardless
of what bus they use - bendies only have a fraction fewer seats. And
no one who's stood on a double decker with more than a handful of
other people would volunteer to do it again.



Well I could always get a seat downstairs on a d/d 25 mid-way along
the route before it was made "free". Now it's full of people
travelling from end-to-end for nothing who would have previously used
a combination of LUL and "One" Railway.



[email protected] October 3rd 07 03:45 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
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.


Steve Fitzgerald October 3rd 07 05:02 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
In message . com,
Boltar writes

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.


You know, for once I actually totally agree with you... Now I'm scared!
--
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)

Steve Fitzgerald October 3rd 07 05:08 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
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)

Neil Williams October 3rd 07 06:34 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
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.

Neil Williams October 3rd 07 06:36 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:46:41 -0700, MIG
wrote:

1) I almost always have to stand if I use them, because they have less
seats.


I choose to stand on one for a short journey. This is made easier by
there being a bit more space for doing so and no need to traipse up-
and downstairs.

3) The constantly block pedestrian crossings.


Only due to poor driving.

and any other bleedin obvious reasons why 18 m vehicles might not be
appropriate for the winding narrow streets of an old city.


Many other European cities seem not to have an issue. Have you seen
those 16m rigid 6-axle single-deckers? Those must be even more
challenging to drive.

Neil

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

Neil Williams October 3rd 07 06:38 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:03:09 -0700, John B wrote:

[also at Thoss - bendies have more doors than deckers. Unless you're
going to turn the entire bottom deck into doors, which is a bit
pointless, then you simply can't get the same passenger throughput]


If your aim is to have a decker that would reduce conflicts and
therefore speed up throughput, a Berlin-style arrangement with a front
and rear door (on at the front and off at the back) and two sets of
stairs (up at the front, down at the back) would be very worthy of
consideration.

Neil

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

[email protected] October 3rd 07 06:46 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 

A better question would be - who the hell thought double deckers were
ever a good idea? Apart from taking up less roadspace


And you don't think in a heavily crowded city like London that this
one factor alone makes double-deckers eminently suitable and
sensible??

Have you actually seen the end-to-end carpet of red metal that now
lines both lanes of Oxford Street permanently?!

I am just waiting for a University rag committee to suggest a new
sport of bus-roof-hopping down Oxford Street - easily achievable, and
far quicker than actually travelling IN one of those red things!

Marc.


Neil Williams October 3rd 07 06:53 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:46:23 -0700, "
wrote:

Have you actually seen the end-to-end carpet of red metal that now
lines both lanes of Oxford Street permanently?!


The problem with Oxford Street, apart from just "too many buses", is
that both the traffic light phasing and the bus stop layout is
utterly, utterly broken, and needs to be redesigned bearing in mind
that people can no longer just ignore it like they did on the
Routemasters.

Neil

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

MIG October 3rd 07 07:18 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
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.


brixtonite October 3rd 07 07:59 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On Oct 3, 12:46 pm, MIG wrote:


In general, buses could be a slower but more pleasant alternative to
the Underground, instead of which the slower alternative now has the
ambience of the Underground (standing in a long thing).


And in particular, the lack of any view. On a double-decker, there
are loads of seats with a decent view; on a bendy, only one (on the
left at the front). IMO the view from the top deck of a bus is one of
the three best things about not just London, but England in general.


Tim Roll-Pickering October 3rd 07 09:08 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
Neil Williams wrote:

3) The constantly block pedestrian crossings.


Only due to poor driving.


Yes but multiple experiences suggest that in general either the buses are
difficult to drive for the standard bus driver in London or that they are
often assigned the worst drivers - hence the problems with overheating
amongst others. Drivers on the 25 have an annoying tendency to stop the bus
at a middle of nowhere spot between Bow and Stratford and not tell the
passengers that they'll have to wait ages for a driver changeover - the very
opposite of customer service.



John Rowland October 3rd 07 09:44 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 

Time to bring up this again...

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk....c06815ab7786b6



Tom Anderson October 3rd 07 11:26 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On Wed, 3 Oct 2007, brixtonite wrote:

On Oct 3, 12:46 pm, MIG wrote:

In general, buses could be a slower but more pleasant alternative to
the Underground, instead of which the slower alternative now has the
ambience of the Underground (standing in a long thing).


And in particular, the lack of any view. On a double-decker, there are
loads of seats with a decent view; on a bendy, only one (on the left at
the front). IMO the view from the top deck of a bus is one of the three
best things about not just London, but England in general.


May i ask what the other two are?

tom

--
Also giving up smoking (cigarettes) today so apologies if it reads wierd
or I trail off into maddness at any point!! -- Agent D, 20051129

John Rowland October 4th 07 12:06 AM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
Tom Anderson wrote:
On Wed, 3 Oct 2007, brixtonite wrote:

On Oct 3, 12:46 pm, MIG wrote:

In general, buses could be a slower but more pleasant alternative to
the Underground, instead of which the slower alternative now has the
ambience of the Underground (standing in a long thing).


And in particular, the lack of any view. On a double-decker, there
are loads of seats with a decent view; on a bendy, only one (on the
left at the front). IMO the view from the top deck of a bus is one
of the three best things about not just London, but England in
general.


May i ask what the other two are?


You and me, Tom, you and me.



Boltar October 4th 07 08:28 AM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On Oct 3, 7:46 pm, " wrote:
A better question would be - who the hell thought double deckers were
ever a good idea? Apart from taking up less roadspace


And you don't think in a heavily crowded city like London that this
one factor alone makes double-deckers eminently suitable and
sensible??


That would be a fair point except that bendy buses carry a damn site
more people than a double decker.

I am just waiting for a University rag committee to suggest a new
sport of bus-roof-hopping down Oxford Street - easily achievable, and
far quicker than actually travelling IN one of those red things!


More likely the local chavs. We've already had train surfing so
perhaps this would be the next thrill for potential darwin award
nominees.

B2003



Ernst S Blofeld October 4th 07 12:49 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
Boltar wrote:
More likely the local chavs. We've already had train surfing so
perhaps this would be the next thrill for potential darwin award
nominees.


I was always given to understand that 'bus surfing' predated 'train
surfing' but either way, it's old hat these days. These guys didn't use
the roof so maybe 'surfing' is a bit of a stretch;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1033878.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/c...re/5042184.stm

ESB

David Cantrell October 4th 07 01:18 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On Wed, Oct 03, 2007 at 06:13:24AM -0700, Mr Thant wrote:

The reason you normally have to stand on a bendy is that they've only
been deployed on the busiest routes where you'd be standing regardless
of what bus they use - bendies only have a fraction fewer seats.


********. Bendies seat IIRC 50 but carry 150 max. The routemasters
they replaced could carry 60 to 70-ish with *5* standing. So, assuming
that each bendy replaced two routemasters, which judging by service
frequency is about right, then you were three times more likely to get a
seat on route 38 (the one I use the most) before it went bendy.
Assuming the buses are full, which they normally are when I travel.

However, the biggest problem I have as a passenger with bendy buses is
that they cause all the traffic to stop on New Oxford St because they
have so much trouble getting round the corners at the junction with
Bloomsbury Street and TCR. They also sometimes have trouble at
Picadilly Circus, and the entrance to Victoria bus station, because they
need too much space on the road.

--
David Cantrell | London Perl Mongers Deputy Chief Heretic

Please stop rolling your Jargon Dice and explain the problem
you are having to me in plain English, using small words.
-- John Hardin, in the Monastery

Colin Rosenstiel October 4th 07 08:18 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
In article ,
(David Cantrell) wrote:

********. Bendies seat IIRC 50 but carry 150 max. The routemasters
they replaced could carry 60 to 70-ish with *5* standing. So, assuming
that each bendy replaced two routemasters, which judging by service
frequency is about right, then you were three times more likely to get

a
seat on route 38 (the one I use the most) before it went bendy.
Assuming the buses are full, which they normally are when I travel.


Another important factor debunking the claim that bendies have greater
capacity. Routemasters have 64 or 72 (RMLs) seats.

However, the biggest problem I have as a passenger with bendy buses
is that they cause all the traffic to stop on New Oxford St because

they
have so much trouble getting round the corners at the junction with
Bloomsbury Street and TCR. They also sometimes have trouble at
Picadilly Circus, and the entrance to Victoria bus station, because

they
need too much space on the road.


I cycle straight ahead from Bloomsbury St on my way from king's Cross to
the office and can confirm the bendy problem at that junction.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

Neil Williams October 4th 07 08:21 PM

Am I the only person who likes Bendy Buses
 
On Thu, 4 Oct 2007 21:18 +0100 (BST), (Colin
Rosenstiel) wrote:

Another important factor debunking the claim that bendies have greater
capacity. Routemasters have 64 or 72 (RMLs) seats.


If you could call them that, as they were very narrow and to a very
tight pitch.

Neil

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


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