Why Did London Ever Buy the Bendy Buses?
One of the bus routes, the 141, near me, has some double-deck buses that are about ten years old. So they are not in the best of condition, but they don’t break down and take passengers, both able-bodied and disabled with ease.
Today, I was on a new Dennis Trident and from where I sat in the front, I could see the warranty plate. The chassis and bodywork got twelve years, the engine three and the gear-box five, which struck me as a firm statement of reliability by the manufacturer.
I also have the 73 or seventy-free near me, which are younger than the older 141s and are starting to look rather tatty. Given their accident record and the fact that passengers, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians don’t like them, it always puzzles me, why anybody would be stupid enough to buy the damn things in the first place?
Especially, as they are Spanish-built, whereas both Wright and Dennis Alexander buses are assembled in the UK.
What really shows up the bendy bus to me, is when I go shopping at Upper Street. I have a choice of six direct routes home, but I rarely catch a 73. I usually go in the morning, when bus loads are low, so on return on a double deck bus, I usually am able to walk easily to the back of the bus and sit with my shopping bag on the seat next to me. So I have comfortable ride home. On a bendy bus, space is so much more cramped, that I either put the bag on my lap or block the aisle with it. I have heard that new London buses will have seats wider than the legal minimum at 440 mm. For a small person like me, that means I can sit on a window seat with my shopping outside and not block the aisle seat.
The Anonymous Widower 
12 year chassis, 3 year engine, 5 year gearbox? My computer is older than all those. In my opinion, this is just a child in car, or bus, terms. Another ten years and reliabilty can be started to be questioned.
I think they bought them because they sound cool.
I don’t know – I read this post and instantly thought “throw away society”. Waste.
Good post,
John
Comment by happypoppeye | May 21, 2011 |
The trouble is that mechanical parts in buses take a hell of a hammering. As an electrical engineer, I believe that London’s new hybrid buses will suffer less wear and tear, as they are lighter and only have a small diesel engine coupled with a generator, battery and an electric motor. They may sound complex, but then most components have been around for years and electrical systems are generally much more reliable than mechanical ones. That’s why diesel trains are generally diesel electric rather than diesel mechanical.
Comment by AnonW | May 21, 2011 |
The bendies are quieter, more comfortable and easier to get on and off. Some of the double deckers are an abomination – the 76s by us (which were Volvos) used to generate ear-shattering noise (but we now have new hybrids that uncannily cut the diesel engine out now on the 76).
Comment by Marc | May 21, 2011 |
They only cut out the engines when the battery is full, but they are quite a bit quieter. I’ve got a noise meter and I’ve applied Ian Walmsley’s train comfort index to buses. The new buses and especially the hybrids score well. But get on something like a 277 and they are nowhere near as good.
I don’t like bendy buses, as at certain places they make it almost impossible to cross the road. Also, as I said earlier, when I do my shopping, I find the double-deck buses easier. The new ones will also have wider seats. I think the 56’s already do.
I won’t be sad to see the bendy buses go.
Comment by AnonW | May 21, 2011 |