Should Boris Johnson renew the Bendy Bus contracts?

[somersetchris]

I thought that all buses were leased, not bought nowadays

[DarJoLe]

Boris Johnson: careless wishes on the bendy?


Last day of the bendy 507. Photograph: Dave Hill

Just back from an afternoon of riding bendys, such is the sizzling glamour of my lifestyle. Strange, isn't it, how disclosing an interest in buses is so often followed by a piece of defensive self-deprecation? Not in every case, mind. While at Victoria, sneakily extracting quotes from drivers and supervisors of the 507 service, I was approached by a man wearing thick glasses and a long and unseasonal overcoat. He had an impressive camera too.

"Are you a fellow bus-lover?" he asked.

"No," I hurriedly replied, adding, to soften the blow, "Not exactly."

He explained to me that he "hated" bendy buses but that it was vital to photograph the last day of their working route 507, "because it's history". Did he have a view on the the promised "New Routemaster"? He seemed sceptical. Perhaps he is suspicious of any form of bus change, though as an afterthought he said, "At least it will have an open platform".

Others on the scene took a different view. A driver I spoke to predicted "chaos" on Monday morning when the unhinged single-decker replacements are put to their first rush hour test. I was also told that the absolute maximum 140-odd passengers were routinely "rammed" onto every bendy on weekday mornings within the space of three minutes. There was a departure every five.

Under the new regime there will be a departure every three minutes in an attempt to ensure that overall passenger capacity is maintained. The ramming ritual appears set to intensify.

"Bad decision by Boris?" I innocently inquired.

"Some people should be careful what they wish for," came the gruff reply.

Have a crush-free weekend.

[JDRS]

So two single deckers on the road for every one bendy bus. That's really going to be good for congestion and the environment... Why are they not replacing some of them with double deckers by the way? There must be a reason behind this. I saw Boris on the news suggesting the bendy bus he was standing on would be going to Coventry. Funny how they can accept them with no fuss and London can't. So there may be less fare evasion (estimated £5m saving) but it will cost an additional £12m a year.

[somersetchris]

Originally Posted by JDRS

Why are they not replacing some of them with double deckers by the way? There must be a reason behind this.

Low bridge

[Acemcbuller]

Originally Posted by JDRS

So there may be less fare evasion (estimated £5m saving) but it will cost an additional £12m a year.

From Mayor's Question time via London Reconnections

Valerie Shawcross: I note that the single deck buses replacing the 507 and 521 Bendy buses will have passenger entry at 'all doors' in order to try and speed up their loading and unloading to be more like the Bendy buses. How will this reduce the problem of fare evasion?

Boris Johnson: It will remain the case that passengers using routes 507 and 521 will need to have a ticket before they board, and boarding and alighting will be permitted at both doors. These arrangements are well suited to these short routes, which operate entirely in the central London area and whose main purpose is to distribute passengers from the main rail terminals. As a result of this, more passengers on these routes tend to be holders of season tickets, meaning fare evasion on these routes is significantly lower.

On route 38, catering for a different type of operation, all passengers will be required to enter through the front door.

[Langur]

Great news. Bendy buses be gone!!

[Plaistow]

Was the "Route 38 bus lane scheme" around Holborn planned before or after Boris's election? I can't help but think that we'll see a press release heralding improvements in timetabling when route 38 converts to double deckers, without mentioning the time saved by them not having to wait in traffic there.

Will the 507 replacements be mainly standing-room only, like the bendy buses and the single deckers used prior to their introduction?

Traveling along Kingsland Road in Dalston to the City in the days when the 149 and 242 were both double-decker was a nightmare, and usually involved letting several buses go past. Since then, the number of apartments built in this area has shot up, meaning even more commuters. The only saving grace maybe the opening of the London Overground which parallels this section of the route. I doubt many people from Dalston will want to walk from Shoreditch to Liverpool Street, but many will choose the Overgound to connect to Highbury & Islington or Canada Water, especially as there will be a train every two minutes on this stretch.

Finally, does anyone know when the KPMG report for Boris will be released? I wonder if we might see a return to the dark days when you couldn't catch a bus on a Sunday in some areas, or vastly reduced services.

[somersetchris]

I have heard nothing all week about the 507 and if it is overcrowded. But was it a ploy starting it as a single decker in the school summer holidays?

[DarJoLe]

http://www.thelondonpaper.com/thelon...-the-bendy-bus

[SE9]

It doesn't get any better: http://www.londoninformer.co.uk/lond...3489-24341939/

[Langur]

Bendy buses were perhaps the ugliest London has ever seen, not to mention the worst road-hogs. I think it's great that they're going.

[Republica]

Its weird how bendy buses operate round many cities in the UK without fuss dont you think Monkey?

Bendy buses work on the right routes - where high capacity is needed. Its quite simple. I want to see them come up with a double decker bendy, the ultimate bus, with double decker stops.

[cle]

I love the bendies. They're perfectly suited to the route I use them on, the 18.

Modern double deckers are just as ugly, and short single deckers are too small.

[somersetchris]

Bendy loving or hating is quite simple. If you use them you love them. If you do not, you hate them

[reterac]

Originally Posted by Republica

I want to see them come up with a double decker bendy, the ultimate bus, with double decker stops.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoplan_Jumbocruiser

[sweek]

How about introducing these babies?


I can already imagine Boris' reaction!

[WatcherZero]

The police should use them, who needs stingers when you could cover an entire 4 lane dual carriageway with one bus.

[Octoman]

They have too little seating and when they corner you get thrown around like a pea in a tumble dryer. Road space is at a premium and they take up too much of it. They block junctions and their rear doors are so far from bus stops you get soacked if its raining. Its easier to dodge fares. They look awful, like giant metal sausages. Get more than a couple in a row and they can create a jam that reaches the next junction back. They encroach on the pavement on tight corners and are a menace to cyclists.

[Leeds No.1]

Originally Posted by Octoman

They have too little seating and when they corner you get thrown around like a pea in a tumble dryer. Road space is at a premium and they take up too much of it. They block junctions and their rear doors are so far from bus stops you get soacked if its raining. Its easier to dodge fares. They look awful, like giant metal sausages. Get more than a couple in a row and they can create a jam that reaches the next junction back. They encroach on the pavement on tight corners and are a menace to cyclists.

Little seating means more standing space though- ie higher overall capacity. People only sit because they prefer to, most people don't need to sit. It's a choice between people being left at bus stops because they can't fit on or having to stand.

Bus stops are rarely big enough to take the amount of people that wait at them- most people have to queue out of the bus stop anyway.

[mr_jrt]

...of course, there's also the argument that if the capacity of a bendy (or jumbo cruiser!) is needed.....then perhaps, just perhaps.....maybe a bus isn't up to the task and maybe trams or more tubes are actually needed...