Waiting For A New Bus for London
I was waiting for a 38 or 56 bus at the Angel, this afternoon and as I had a couple of moderately-heavy bags from Waitrose and the stop was busy, I waited about twenty metres away from the stop, in case a New Bus for London arrived. I wasn’t the only one and when a bus did arrive, we all formed a secondary queue and got on at the back door, when the conductor beckoned. If one hadn’t have arrived, we’d have all waited until the main queue had shortened and then joined the first bus.
I think we’re just going along with the designer’s plans, as the New Bus was quickly on its way. It will be interesting to see how much New Buses for London save on journey times.
The Anonymous Widower 
the new bus seems to have captured the bus going publics imagination and is a massive hit with young and old. Up until now bus travel was seen as just for poor people or voilent adolescents. the new bus has changed bus travel to something resembling cool. At least on the 38 anyway. Top marks to Boris, I thought he was a bit mad when he pledged to bring back the RM bus he did a far better job that I thought possible.
Comment by AverageJoe | September 23, 2012 |
I’ve seen the effect before, when London Transport brought in the Routemaster to replace the trolley bus. The Trolley buses were faster but they did have the problem with the wires and weren’t good in traffic jams. Let’s hope the new bus inspires a new genertion of engineers and designers.
I think though, that one of the reasons the new bus is such a massive hit, is that it’s more comfortable and user-friendly than the others.
Comment by AnonW | September 24, 2012 |
You said the route 73 would be next to get the new bus, did you hear that from a conductor? I’m on the 29 which is a high capacity/high frequency ex bendy route so I’m hoping they stick them on the 29.
Comment by AverageJoe | September 24, 2012
I have to say I always felt conscious when going up the stairs of a standard one stair double decker as you are met with 30 pairs of eyes looking back at you. You don’t particularly want to make eye contact with strangers when searching for an empty seat which was all slightly uncomfortable. I’m a big bloke in my 30’s so I’d imagine it would be far more uncomfortable for women or the elderly, especially with a raucous bunch of school kids down the back of the bus . Now with the new bus you can reach the top deck from the back and spot a spare seat, a much more pleasant experience.
Comment by AverageJoe | September 24, 2012 |
I did hear it from a conductor. 73 would be logical, as it’s another Arriva route, as is 29.
Just looked up the 29 on Wikipedia. Apparently it’s getting new hybrid Wright buses from the 12th January 2013. So they might swap it for New Buses. After all, I suspect Wright don’t mind which buses they make. Wikipedia also says it’s a route with high crime, so perhaps a conductor service, might not be a bad thing. They may actually reduce crime, because if you were a pick-pocket say, you’d probably choose a bus without one. I think, it’s true to say that there are a few conductors on the 38, who you’d think twice about, before messing up their bus!
What all the reviews of the New Bus never mention, is the fact that the floor downstairs has no steps from the front entry to the back exit. This is so much safer and not just for the elderly and those who don’t have 100 % ability, for whatever reason. In a few years time, all buses will be like this.
I have a feeling that you can’t have a completely flat floor design in a non-hybrid bus. I suspect that the centre exit helps as well.
Comment by AnonW | September 24, 2012 |