Hulver's site || Comments || Oliver's Army

Nice pics by cam (4.00 / 1) #1 Sun Jul 16, 2006 at 03:55:48 PM EST

Are the London buses still double-deckers due to tradition or function?

Canberra used to have these weird buses that had a half-bus on the back with a canvas concertina to keep them visually together. Not sure why they didnt just buy British double deckers, being RHD and plentiful in London you would assume they would be fairly cheap.

cam
Freedom, liberty, equity and an Australian Republic

They're introducing by TheophileEscargot (4.00 / 1) #2 Sun Jul 16, 2006 at 04:01:36 PM EST

"Bendy buses": single decker buses in two sections with a concertina in the middle. I hope they don't phase out double-deckers though: you don't get much of a view from a single-storey bus. Some of the double deckers look pretty new.

London transport has zero concern with tradition: any old stuff around is there purely because they don't want to pay for new stuff. You can obviously get more people in a double decker than a rigid single-decker, which means you only have to pay one driver's salary. Not sure if there's an advantage over bendy buses though: they might be able to get around tighter corners or do better in traffic.
--
"Everything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise." -- Bertrand Russell
[ Parent ]

Bendy buses by komet (4.00 / 1) #4 Sun Jul 16, 2006 at 05:22:26 PM EST

Zurich recently trialed an insane double bendy bus that seats 200. I was surprised at how tight it turned round corners - the bendy bits really seem to assist in that. I wouldn't be surprised if your bendy buses actually have a smaller turning circle than the Routemasters.

--
<ni> komet: You are functionally illiterate as regards trashy erotica.
[ Parent ]

: Not a Routemaster, probably, by ambrosen (2.00 / 0) #7 Sun Jul 16, 2006 at 06:54:01 PM EST

they're actually really tiny and light (8 tons), despite taking a lot of people. But a modern double decker's quite a bit larger (11 tons), and longer.

[ Parent ]

We have double-decker buses by spacejack (4.00 / 1) #6 Sun Jul 16, 2006 at 05:48:26 PM EST

They make the British tourists feel at home when they're sightseeing along Queen Street, King street, Charles Street, Elisabeth Street, Prince Arthur, Kensington Market, Queen's Park, etc.

[ Parent ]

bendies by MillMan (2.00 / 0) #9 Sun Jul 16, 2006 at 09:02:47 PM EST

fairly common in the US on longer express routes, and I did see some of them while I was in London. I think the double deckers are much more practical in a crowded city like London for the simple reason that they have a smaller footprint.

Everybody still hates me in this city and I hate everybody.
[ Parent ]

Oh yeah by TheophileEscargot (4.00 / 2) #3 Sun Jul 16, 2006 at 04:03:24 PM EST

You've probably seen this video already: P47 gun camera footage from WW2.
--
"Everything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise." -- Bertrand Russell
[ Parent ]

: Clumsy fakes by Rogerborg (4.00 / 2) #5 Sun Jul 16, 2006 at 05:25:21 PM EST

I've seen the real footage on the Hitler Channel, and it's alll "Neeeaaaawwww - DACKA-DACKA-DACKA - ach, Gott in Himmel"

-
Metus amatores matrum compescit, non clementia.
[ Parent ]