So farewell, then, Routemaster bus

[English assassin]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4510410.stm

Alas, today sees the last journey by the iconic London Routemaster bus, which first entered service over 50 years ago. If you think of London, overseas dudes, chances are you are thinking of a Routemaster.

Ironically, although they are said to have been phased out because they are not disabled-friendly, surveys show they are actually more popular with disabled travellers than they are with non disabled (something like an 83% satisfaction rating). The reason is they have conductors who can actually help disabled people on and off, which is more than can be said for modern buses.

(NB I am not a bus fan, but its not every day 50 years of history comes to an end)

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Bad move London admins.
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[edyzmedieval]

Very bad move...

[Crazed Rabbit]

Here we call them 'doubledeckers'.

Its sad to see them go, especially for such a stupid reason.

Crazed Rabbit

[Kanamori]

Dag, I wanted to ride one

[Templar Knight]

Ironically, although they are said to have been phased out because they are not disabled-friendly, surveys show they are actually more popular with disabled travellers than they are with non disabled (something like an 83% satisfaction rating).

Again some fools claiming to know whats best

[Reverend Joe]

I went to London once... I didn't ride any of them.

[English assassin]

Dag, I wanted to ride one

Dude, you can BUY one now...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4075085.stm

[Reverend Joe]

Dude, you can BUY one now...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4075085.stm

[ichi]

Gah!

Apparently someone at the British Bus Company doesn't get it.

Gah!

[Mikeus Caesar]

Gah!

Apparently someone at the British Bus Company doesn't get it.

Gah!

I think you mean London Transport Council. I think.

Anyway, it's a sad day. The routemaster is a much more reliable bus than those bendy monstrosities, and it could hold more people. Looked nicer too.

Here we call them 'doubledeckers'.

Everyone in Britain (nearly everyone anyway) calls them double deckers, just that 'Routemaster' (the London bus that is finally phased out) is the official name.

[Geoffrey S]

Just to check, does this mean no more distinctive red doubledecker busses in London, or none of this particular make? I can't imagine London without the trademark busses.

[Marcellus]

Dag, I wanted to ride one

You can - they're leaving two 'Heritage routes' for the Routemasters to run on.

Just to check, does this mean no more distinctive red doubledecker busses in London, or none of this particular make? I can't imagine London without the trademark busses.

Not at all -there are vast numbers of double deckers on the road - just much more modern designs than the half-century old Routemaster.

As iconic as the Routemasters are, we do have to move on. The fact is that they are close to half a century old, and modern buses are faster, easier to drive, more fuel efficient, have a higher passenger capacity, are more accessible and I would imagine a bit cleaner. And whilst being able to jump on and off becuase of the open back door and the conductor is useful, it must greatly increase operating costs (having two staff members per bus, not one).

[Reverend Joe]

As iconic as the Routemasters are, we do have to move on. The fact is that they are close to half a century old, and modern buses are faster, easier to drive, more fuel efficient, have a higher passenger capacity, are more accessible and I would imagine a bit cleaner. And whilst being able to jump on and off becuase of the open back door and the conductor is useful, it must greatly increase operating costs (having two staff members per bus, not one).

I can understand the makpower costs, but the fuel efficiency and ease of driving is something I don't understand. Why can't auto designers get it through their thick heads that you can reuse or recreate a car chassis, but put in new engines and guts? If they would do that, we could have truly retro cars!

I HATE THE NEW BEETLES! THEY LOOK LIKE ****!!! And don't even get me started on the new Mini Coopers...

Sorry. That has been building up for a few years.

[Mouzafphaerre]

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I HATE THE NEW BEETLES! THEY LOOK LIKE ****!!! And don't even get me started on the new Mini Coopers...

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[Kralizec]

Here we call them 'doubledeckers'.

Its sad to see them go, especially for such a stupid reason.

Crazed Rabbit

Wich stupid reason?

The fact that modern buses are safer?
That they're more fuel efficient and better for the environment?
That they're cheaper?

If people are so nostalgic, they should either
- buy one of those old buses- they're only 6,000 pounds I heard
- take those heritage trips for ol' times sake
- deal with it and move on

I bet some people opposed the rise of motorised traffic because those good old horse and wagons would dissapear. Or the construction of a bridge, because that would mean the good old ferry would have to dissapear. Big deal. It's called progress, and it should never be stopped because of pure nostalgia.

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

apparently red Ken (Mayor of London) once said:

"only a ghastly dehumanised moron would want to get rid of the Routemaster"

[Ianofsmeg16]

apparently red Ken (Mayor of London) once said:

"only a ghastly dehumanised moron would want to get rid of the Routemaster"

And who just got rid of it
people say the darndest things