The More I Travel on the New Bus for London, the More I Learn
The New Bus for London reveals another facet of its design every time I travel on one. Today for instance, I noticed that the upper-deck handholds were spaced for ease of walking and of course safety.
I also had a chat with a guy travelling alone in a wheel-chair.
He liked the bus, as he had more space and it was easier to turn his chair and get it in position for travel and for alighting.
Both these small points for me, but important for others, show how the designers of the bus, seem to have taken a fresh look at everything. Or at least chosen the best practice from past designs.
London’s First New Conductress
As my cooker has now gone, all I have to cook food is a microwave. So tonight, I took a 38 bus up to Upper Street to go to Carluccio’s.
I got a New Bus for London from the Balls Pond Road on my outward journey and by chance the same bus on the return. It was the first time, that the conductor on the bus, hadn’t been a man.
London’s First New Conductress
Note that she has taken up the surf position, that all London conductors, male or female, used to use on Routemasters and their predecessors, like the RTs, on which I used to go to school.
It’s Gibbon Time
I took a New Bus for London up to Piccadilly Circus this afternoon and it was surprisingly busy for a Sunday afternoon.
A Busy New Bus for London
When I got off, I used the rear staircase and I found that the vertical hand holds were alternated for my left and right hands. So I swung down the bus like a gibbon. I’m not sure, whether all buses are like that on the top deck. But if they are not, they should be! The slightly rough texture of the hand holds also gives a good grip for my gammy left hand.
Incidentally, note in the picture, how the handholds slant outwards. Does this effectively make the gangway wider? Or just appear so? I must take my tape measure with me to check!
After all, when you are rehabilitating from a stroke, like I am, isn’t it a bit cheaper to get free exercise in everything you do?
Are All London’s Central Bus Routes Going Hybrid?
I was talking to a bus driver today and he said that all routes through the city would be using hybrid buses. Did he mean the actual City or Central London?
It’s all good progress either way, as they are quieter, emit less pollution, are better to ride on and create less carbon-dioxide emissions. At present we have 225 hybrid buses in London, with new ones on routes 43 and 149 having been introduced recently. There’s more about London’s hybrid buses here.
In some ways though to put the new buses in the central parts of London is a good idea, as that is where the pollution is worst. It also may have a secondary effect, in that it impresses visitors, either through clean air or though curiosity about the technology. It certainly wouldn’t hurt this country, if we became world leaders in the technology.
London Bridge Bus Station Is Now Open
They said it would open on Monday. And it obviously did, as these pictures show!
The main bus routes are now on the station forecourt. The bus spider map for the station is here.
Because of space limitations, there are only four stands in front of the station, but they are all connected by a single zebra crossing.
- A – Handles both 48 and 149
- B – Handles the fast 521 to Waterloo
- C – Handles both 43 and 141
- D – Handles the 17 to Archway
Note that stands A and C handle more than one route, but go off in the same direction.
For some routes, you’ll need to go to London Bridge to stand M.
Hail the Granny Bus!
The term may be a bit over the top and sexist, as why should it just be grannies and not granpas as well.
But it does seem the elderly like travelling on the New Bus for London. This picture of an elderly couple getting on at traffic lights, sums up the elderly’s attitude to the bus and is one of many I could have taken in a similar vein.
Hopping On a New Bus for London
I also encountered two ladies on the bus, who had deliberately waited for a ride on a New Bus for London. They were impressed.
I think it must bring back memories of years ago, when you could get on and off when you wanted and got service from a friendly conductor.
The Bus Games People Play
The behaviour of most people on London’s buses is generally immaculate, but it is sometimes treated like a serious game.
Obviously, kids like to travel in the front seats on the top. But so do adults and people generally move about to get the best seats as they become available. Perhaps, we all never grow up. Unless of course, we’re someone like Gordon Brown or Angela Merkel.
And then there’s how you choose, who you sit next to! It’s not just men, who like to sit next to nice-looking ladies and I can’t deny it doesn’t happen. But today, an elderly lady deliberately moved over so that I sat next to her, so she could have a chat. Most of the other passengers at the time were in their twenties at their eldest. In some ways, it’s only being friendly and no-one bothers.
And then there’s the game of judging what is the best time to descend from the top deck, just before you get off, as obviously walking down into an empty lobby is easiest. This game will get even more fun on a New Bus for London, as you have two staircases.
The New Bus for London also allows you to get on and off at convenient places, so this is yet another game, which at some time will come under the realm of the Health and Safety Police. But until then, let’s enjoy it.
A Plague of 38 Buses
Perhaps plague is the wrong word, but they were swarming round the Angel, when I came home. I was part of a convoy of six, led by a New Bus for London. Does the fact that it was in front, show that they are faster at both loading and unloading and between the stops? I also saw all three of the new buses today, so they are getting more common, with a fourth example expected for next week.
Are Young Girls More Difficult Than Young Boys?
This has never occurred to me before, as C and myself, just had the three boys. But on the bus back from the Angel a few minutes ago, there was a girl of about six really pushing the limits with her mother, who had another in a buggy. Thinking about ir, when I see bad behaviour on these buses, it possibly is more often that it’s girls being a bit raucous and naughty. I’ve also been on buses with a load of twelve year old boys and this can be a nightmare too.
So when they are young, are girls worse than boys? Or do they play advantage of what they are expected to be like?
The Cambridge Guided Duckway
I found this report about the Cambridge Busway.
