A Single-Manned New Bus for London
I went to the Angel last night and took one the New Buses for London on route 38. It was the first that I’d seen being run single-manned without a conductor.
The driver though was opening all three doors at stops, so that the rather light traffic at that time could get easily on and off.
I had thought that only the front two would open, with the platform kept tightly closed.
The Anonymous Widower 
Gold Coast [60km x 20km 700k residents, 10+ Million Visitors] . . . Bus Systems connect wih Beach Strip & run North /South Loops including the 20km depth . . . Single Manned Buses two doors . . .
Now Test Runs of a few Double Decker Buses on the Urban Route & a New Light Rail along the Beach Run [Proposed to join the Airport South to North Railway Station] . . .
But we still need Buses . . . [wish we also had London Taxis instead of taxis driven by unlicensed drivers {sub continent}, borrow license from friend; who don’t assault Female Customers [who are tipsy or alone} and who know where to go {without overcharging} . . . all we need now is a london Taxi Service.
Comment by Steam Lover | February 23, 2013 |
You have to remember that London buses are almost unique in the world, in that many inhabitants of the city prefer to take a bus, rather than use the Underground, as often one bus journey gets you where you want to go. They are also very information rich, which in my view is the most important thing to get people to use buses. All public transport systems should try to attain Transport for London’s information standards, as it definitely makes the system friendly to those, who don’t live in the city. You can’t have too many maps and displays.
As to the taxis, the system is very simple and means that every driver is licensed. They need to be of good character and have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the city. The vehicles too also have to be licensed and fully inspected. Many UK cities and large towns use an almost identical system.
Why don’t they in Oz?
Comment by AnonW | February 23, 2013 |
All the buses in Manchester are single-manned and have been so for some considerable time. This must make them more economical to run and provide increased profits for the share-holders and the private companies – public services being run for private greed and not for the public benefit these days.
There is also more littering, fare-dodging and general anti-social behaviour on the buses than in the days when we had conductors. I hope this doesn’t happen on the London route 38.
Comment by Janice Mermikli | February 23, 2013 |
Most buses in London are single-manned, but the New Bus for London generally work with a crew of 2, although like this one, at quiet times the second man isn’t used.
All London buses have at least two doors, which mean that those entering the bus and those leaving don’t get mixed up. Because there are two doors, the buses run faster, as they don’t spend so much time at stops.
The other benefit of two doors, is low-life don’t generally hang around the driver, trying to nick his money. I travelled on a Manchester bus with a driver and he said, that most of the drivers want two door buses to make their lives easier. Manchester buses are some of the worst organised in the UK, with no information at major stops like Piccadilly and no maps at the stops.
Comment by AnonW | February 23, 2013 |
How was he opening all three doors at stops? The rear door cannot be fully opening or closed remotely as far as I’m aware. That being the case the one man operated bus must have had the rear door open and unmanned.
Comment by average joe | March 11, 2013 |
The two front doors were opening as they would on any other London bus and I think the rear door was opening a split second later and closing first. As I got off, quite a few passengers disembarked through the rear door.
It was all very professional.
Comment by AnonW | March 11, 2013 |
Interesting, I’m looking forward to the 23rd June, the day the 24 route gets its new buses as I live in Camden.
Comment by average joe | March 25, 2013
Thanks for the date.
Comment by AnonW | March 28, 2013 |