Bozza’s Bus for London

It has always been my ambition to become the name of a common place object like Benedict Arnold became “Eggs Benedict” or Earl Grey became a tea. So I must resent the current Mayor for London, Boris Johnson, (Note; Up for re-election in May 2012) for his effortless accomplishment in this area. He promised Londoner’s “at no cost” a bicycle hire scheme and so (at a cost of £35 M+) we get the “Boris Bikes.” He promised to get rid of “Bendy Buses” and now we have the “Bozza Bus” – well 5 of them due for delivery in 2012, just around the time I predict Boris will be leaving office. A full-scale model of London's new Routemaster bus has been unveiled.


Boris Johnson in front of the original Routemaster launching the design competition for a "New Bus for London - NB4L"

London mayor Boris Johnson said the buses, which will come into service 2012, were a combination of "nostalgia" and the "latest technology". The fuel-efficient bus will be quieter than its diesel-run predecessor and have a platform offering passengers the traditional hop-on hop-off service. Wrightbus is making the vehicle at Ballymena in Northern Ireland and the full size model has gone on show at Acton Transport Depot in west London where London’s Transport Museum keeps its “Big stuff”.

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2007/11/londons-transport-museum.html

The vehicle was designed by Thomas Heatherwick of Foster Design, with its interior inspired by the old Routemaster. The new bus will return to the driver-and-conductor model - a key feature of the original version. The old Routemaster was withdrawn from regular service in 2005 and now runs just on two heritage routes in London.

Lord Foster said: “I am delighted that we have won joint first prize with the Aston Martin/Foster + Partners design. This project has really captured my imagination. London’s buses are so much a part of the essence of this city – functionally, symbolically and geographically. They help us draw a mental map – their destinations are London’s historic places, often green: Shepherds Bush, Islington Green, Hampstead Heath, Green Park. Our design seeks to combine contemporary innovation with timelessness. Like the original Routemaster – which was ahead of its time and consequently endured – a new bus for London should establish a whole new travel experience that espouses 21st century aspirations, while celebrating the memory and the experience of the original.”



Mr Johnson said: "Standing on the rear platform of this delectable bus brings back a sense of nostalgia but conversely also demonstrates the quintessence of the latest technology and design, making this bus fit for the 21st Century. It is wonderful to see those two-dimensional designs we unveiled in May have been forged into this amazing bus and I cannot wait to be launching the buses when they first enter public service in 2012." Mark Nodder, managing director of the manufacturer's parent company Wright Group, said seeing the design come to life was "a real thrill".

Jo deBank, of pressure group London TravelWatch, said while innovations in design were welcome, her organisation had concerns about passenger safety on the open platform at the rear of the vehicle. "We also question the cost of two-man operated buses at a time when Transport for London's budget is under real pressure, and we already have concerns about a reduction in services," she said. A prototype will be delivered by next year and the first five new buses will be seen on the roads by early 2012.

But here is a not untypical comment from the London Evening Standard;

"Bendy buses are atrocious. I don't travel on them but they look so dangerous and it's like cattle class with nowhere to stand."

That tells you great deal about the Bendy 'debate' – much of the debate has been informed by people who don't use the buses but now believe they can't sit down on them, can't stand up on them and that they might veer off the road and murder their children at the drop of a hat. As for the Routemaster debate let’s agree that the Routemaster (and the RT) were revolutionary 40 years ago with their narrow, compact design, light weight due to the use of aluminium (and a fibreglass bonnet) responsive engine and automatic gearbox. But they were a product of their time (and a massive centralised organisation which military style rebuilt them every 7 years) and the lack of access and running costs of having a conductor (who with Oyster would NOT take fares) cannot be justified today. More seriously what are the public safety implications of an open platform, who NOW designs a transport solution with a known fatal risk factor? It would be interesting to have a crystal ball and earwig how that one would play in a future court case?


London's iconic Routemaster Bus

The Old Routemaster wasn't just a bus; it was an iconic example of industrial engineering-cum-aesthetic tour de force which was every bit as important to Londoners and tourists alike as Big Ben, Carnaby Street in the swinging sixties and the dear old Queen Mum. Launching in 1954 and built by the Associated Equipment Company, it became a recognisable worldwide symbol of London, adorning postcards and becoming the must-have holiday snap for international visitors.



However for all Bozza the Buses excitement at his new Boy Toy there are some significant drawbacks. First there is the small matter of costs and revenue. Five buses are being built by Wrightbus at £7.8 million or £1.56 M a copy. OK this is for a prototype but there is no certainty it will go into to production so this Boris Toy could be a very expensive vanity project which will leave Londoner’s short-changed, have less capacity than the “Bendy Buses” (90 to 149) and be difficult for people of limited mobility, with shopping or children. To be anyway competitive the “New Routemaster” will need to be manufactured in its thousands which seems unlikely. And with two stairs and 3 entrances will this not seem a somewhat extravagant example of overdesign to solve a problem which isn’t really there? The previous Routemaster had mechanical simplicity on its side which is why it lasted over 40 years – will the same be said of the Bozza Bus?


The Bozza Bus

Why do we believe that there is something so unique about the streets of London that it requires a special bus which by its very nature would fly in the face of procurement efficiency? Is this not a solution which would have obsolescence built in, another in a long line of British World Beaters which never beat anything?


See also;

Bend it like Boris

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/10/bend-it-like-boris.html

A Bus for London

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/10/bus-for-london.html

Routemaster to Perdition

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/12/routemaster-to-perdition.html

Bozza’s Bus for London

It has always been my ambition to become the name of a common place object like Benedict Arnold became “Eggs Benedict” or Earl Grey became a tea. So I must resent the current Mayor for London, Boris Johnson, (Note; Up for re-election in May 2012) for his effortless accomplishment in this area. He promised Londoner’s “at no cost” a bicycle hire scheme and so (at a cost of £35 M+) we get the “Boris Bikes.” He promised to get rid of “Bendy Buses” and now we have the “Bozza Bus” – well 5 of them due for delivery in 2012, just around the time I predict Boris will be leaving office. A full-scale model of London's new Routemaster bus has been unveiled.


Boris Johnson in front of the original Routemaster launching the design competition for a "New Bus for London - NB4L"

London mayor Boris Johnson said the buses, which will come into service 2012, were a combination of "nostalgia" and the "latest technology". The fuel-efficient bus will be quieter than its diesel-run predecessor and have a platform offering passengers the traditional hop-on hop-off service. Wrightbus is making the vehicle at Ballymena in Northern Ireland and the full size model has gone on show at Acton Transport Depot in west London where London’s Transport Museum keeps its “Big stuff”.

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2007/11/londons-transport-museum.html

The vehicle was designed by Thomas Heatherwick of Foster Design, with its interior inspired by the old Routemaster. The new bus will return to the driver-and-conductor model - a key feature of the original version. The old Routemaster was withdrawn from regular service in 2005 and now runs just on two heritage routes in London.

Lord Foster said: “I am delighted that we have won joint first prize with the Aston Martin/Foster + Partners design. This project has really captured my imagination. London’s buses are so much a part of the essence of this city – functionally, symbolically and geographically. They help us draw a mental map – their destinations are London’s historic places, often green: Shepherds Bush, Islington Green, Hampstead Heath, Green Park. Our design seeks to combine contemporary innovation with timelessness. Like the original Routemaster – which was ahead of its time and consequently endured – a new bus for London should establish a whole new travel experience that espouses 21st century aspirations, while celebrating the memory and the experience of the original.”



Mr Johnson said: "Standing on the rear platform of this delectable bus brings back a sense of nostalgia but conversely also demonstrates the quintessence of the latest technology and design, making this bus fit for the 21st Century. It is wonderful to see those two-dimensional designs we unveiled in May have been forged into this amazing bus and I cannot wait to be launching the buses when they first enter public service in 2012." Mark Nodder, managing director of the manufacturer's parent company Wright Group, said seeing the design come to life was "a real thrill".

Jo deBank, of pressure group London TravelWatch, said while innovations in design were welcome, her organisation had concerns about passenger safety on the open platform at the rear of the vehicle. "We also question the cost of two-man operated buses at a time when Transport for London's budget is under real pressure, and we already have concerns about a reduction in services," she said. A prototype will be delivered by next year and the first five new buses will be seen on the roads by early 2012.

But here is a not untypical comment from the London Evening Standard;

"Bendy buses are atrocious. I don't travel on them but they look so dangerous and it's like cattle class with nowhere to stand."

That tells you great deal about the Bendy 'debate' – much of the debate has been informed by people who don't use the buses but now believe they can't sit down on them, can't stand up on them and that they might veer off the road and murder their children at the drop of a hat. As for the Routemaster debate let’s agree that the Routemaster (and the RT) were revolutionary 40 years ago with their narrow, compact design, light weight due to the use of aluminium (and a fibreglass bonnet) responsive engine and automatic gearbox. But they were a product of their time (and a massive centralised organisation which military style rebuilt them every 7 years) and the lack of access and running costs of having a conductor (who with Oyster would NOT take fares) cannot be justified today. More seriously what are the public safety implications of an open platform, who NOW designs a transport solution with a known fatal risk factor? It would be interesting to have a crystal ball and earwig how that one would play in a future court case?


London's iconic Routemaster Bus

The Old Routemaster wasn't just a bus; it was an iconic example of industrial engineering-cum-aesthetic tour de force which was every bit as important to Londoners and tourists alike as Big Ben, Carnaby Street in the swinging sixties and the dear old Queen Mum. Launching in 1954 and built by the Associated Equipment Company, it became a recognisable worldwide symbol of London, adorning postcards and becoming the must-have holiday snap for international visitors.



However for all Bozza the Buses excitement at his new Boy Toy there are some significant drawbacks. First there is the small matter of costs and revenue. Five buses are being built by Wrightbus at £7.8 million or £1.56 M a copy. OK this is for a prototype but there is no certainty it will go into to production so this Boris Toy could be a very expensive vanity project which will leave Londoner’s short-changed, have less capacity than the “Bendy Buses” (90 to 149) and be difficult for people of limited mobility, with shopping or children. To be anyway competitive the “New Routemaster” will need to be manufactured in its thousands which seems unlikely. And with two stairs and 3 entrances will this not seem a somewhat extravagant example of overdesign to solve a problem which isn’t really there? The previous Routemaster had mechanical simplicity on its side which is why it lasted over 40 years – will the same be said of the Bozza Bus?


The Bozza Bus

Why do we believe that there is something so unique about the streets of London that it requires a special bus which by its very nature would fly in the face of procurement efficiency? Is this not a solution which would have obsolescence built in, another in a long line of British World Beaters which never beat anything?


See also;

Bend it like Boris

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/10/bend-it-like-boris.html

A Bus for London

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/10/bus-for-london.html

Routemaster to Perdition

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/12/routemaster-to-perdition.html

Dublin Tram Crash

At least 16 people have been injured following a collision between a double-decker bus and a Luas tram in Dublin city centre on the 16th September 2009.Two women and a man who were trapped on the vehicles have been cut free and rushed to hospital. Thirteen others were also wounded. The crash occurred at the junction of O'Connell Street and Abbey Street shortly before 3pm.

However as they say in Ireland “It is an ill horse that blows no wind” so as the picture shows Specsavers got some very context specific free advertising out of the incident! This photo has now become a big viral hit on the internet and Twitter.

However in these days of Photoshopping it pays to be a bit more sceptical and the comparison of the "Specsaver's" photo above with an original press photo of the incident below shows the Specsavers billboard has been photo shopped on afterwards. This is probably why there is an word for people who believe everything they see. Gullible!

Dublin Tram Crash

At least 16 people have been injured following a collision between a double-decker bus and a Luas tram in Dublin city centre on the 16th September 2009.Two women and a man who were trapped on the vehicles have been cut free and rushed to hospital. Thirteen others were also wounded. The crash occurred at the junction of O'Connell Street and Abbey Street shortly before 3pm.

However as they say in Ireland “It is an ill horse that blows no wind” so as the picture shows Specsavers got some very context specific free advertising out of the incident! This photo has now become a big viral hit on the internet and Twitter.

However in these days of Photoshopping it pays to be a bit more sceptical and the comparison of the "Specsaver's" photo above with an original press photo of the incident below shows the Specsavers billboard has been photo shopped on afterwards. This is probably why there is an word for people who believe everything they see. Gullible!

Routemaster to perdition?

Foster / Aston Martin "Green" Routemaster

The competition launched in July to find a new Routemaster bus for London has found its winner. Well two of them. Warwickshire-based sports car maker Aston Martin, along with architects Foster and Partners, won the £25,000 prize jointly with Wiltshire bus maker Capoco Design. A Transport for London spokesman said the first of the greener and more accessible, hop-on hop-off, double-deckers could be in service by 2011.

If you believe the press releases from City Hall LONDON'S new Routemaster came a step closer as Mayor Boris Johnson unveiled the winning designs for the next generation of the bus. A streamlined space-capsule bus, designed by car-maker Aston Martin and architect Lord Foster, and a Fifties style vehicle by bus designer Capoco shared the top prize. They will each be awarded £25,000 although it was unclear whether their designs would have more than a glancing influence on the bus that ends up on London's streets.

Mr Johnson will set out the next steps in delivering his new bus during an awards ceremony in central London. "When I launched the competition, I asked for stylish and imaginative designs which would resonate with Londoners," he said. "We have had a phenomenal response, with ideas submitted from around the globe, and we now have, in our joint winners, two stunning designs that allow us to go forward and produce a truly iconic bus fit for 21st century London.

"I know that, like me, Londoners will be waiting eagerly to see how these ideas evolve into the final design that will appear on our roads." The winning designs will be passed on to bus manufacturers to develop into a final design. Transport for London expects to award a contract to build the first new bus for London towards the end of next year, with the first of the vehicles on the streets by 2011. The Mayor initially said the new Routemasters would cost £8 million to run with conductors but was later forced to admit the figure would be nearer £100 million.


Boris the Busman

Routemasters were phased out by former Mayor Ken Livingstone amid concerns about accessibility as well as safety questions over the "hop-on, hop-off" platforms. Mr Johnson made bringing in a new generation of the popular bus a key pledge of his election campaign. The winning design had to include an open platform to let passengers board and alight "quickly and easily", show "good use of interior space" and "accessibility", as well as including green technology and having a conductor. The judges particularly liked the rounded rear of the Foster/Aston Martin bus, designed by Todd Hutton, and its nod to the heritage of the original Routemaster by including wooden floors.




Capoco Routemaster Design

More modern aspects included solar panels built into the glass roof -although there have been concerns this could steam up in winter and make the bus top-heavy. The Capoco submission was praised for its technical excellence, in particular its light-weight structure and hybrid propulsion. It also had a separate door for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The bus would seat 66 passengers with room for 14 standing, compared with 72 seats and five standing on the old Routemaster. More than 700 entries were received for the competition.

The judges were the Mayor, his transport adviser Kulveer Ranger, Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy, TfL's head of surface transport David Brown, Clare Kavanagh and Mike Weston from London Buses and bus expert David Quainton.

Now the Celtic sage has previously cast a rather cold eye on the “New Routemaster” competition for it does rather beg the question if the “New Routemaster” is the answer what is the question?

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/10/bend-it-like-boris.html

Speaking as Boris Johnson announced the winners of his design-a-bus competition, Labour's transport spokesperson Val Shawcross said the "Routemaster" competition was not a serious way to make transport policy.


The Real Deal

"The design competition may have been fun and the winning designs are extremely impressive, but this is not a serious way to make policy and not a worthwhile use of public money. If Boris actually used London's buses or talked to those who do, he would see that London's existing fleet is modern, accessible and well-designed. I have yet to hear one convincing argument for why London needs a new double-decker bus and until Boris comes up with some Londoners will see this as little more than a vanity project. There is understandably a lot of nostalgia for the old Routemaster but nostalgia doesn't get people to work on time."

So what happens now?

Well the Mayor has sort of fulfilled his Manifesto commitment.

• There may be a new bus once somebody redesigns one

• And then builds it

• At some point in the future when the Mayor is safely out of office!

But here is a not untypical comment from the Evening Standard;

"Bendy buses are atrocious. I don't travel on them but they look so dangerous and it's like cattle class with nowhere to stand."

And that tells you great deal about the Bendy 'debate' – much of the debate has been informed by people who don't use the buses but now believe they can't sit down on them, can't stand up on them and that they might veer off the road and murder their children at the drop of a hat. So we end up with a pointless, expensive and patronising solution to a problem we don't have. As for the Routemaster debate let’s agree that the Routemaster (and the RT) were revolutionary 40 years ago with their narrow, compact design, light weight due to the use of aluminium (and a fibreglass bonnet) responsive engine and automatic gearbox. But they were a product of their time (and a massive centralised organisation which military style rebuilt them every 7 years) and the lack of access and running costs of having a conductor (who with Oyster would NOT take fares) cannot be justified today. More seriously what are the public safety implications of an open platform, who NOW designs a transport solution with a known fatal risk factor? It would be interesting to have a crystal ball and earwig how that one would play in a future court case?

And why do we believe that there is something so unique about the streets of London that it requires a special bus which by its very nature would fly in the face of procurement efficiency? Is this not a solution which would have obsolescence built in, another in a long line of British World Beaters which never beat anything?


The production model?

Routemaster to perdition?

Foster / Aston Martin "Green" Routemaster

The competition launched in July to find a new Routemaster bus for London has found its winner. Well two of them. Warwickshire-based sports car maker Aston Martin, along with architects Foster and Partners, won the £25,000 prize jointly with Wiltshire bus maker Capoco Design. A Transport for London spokesman said the first of the greener and more accessible, hop-on hop-off, double-deckers could be in service by 2011.

If you believe the press releases from City Hall LONDON'S new Routemaster came a step closer as Mayor Boris Johnson unveiled the winning designs for the next generation of the bus. A streamlined space-capsule bus, designed by car-maker Aston Martin and architect Lord Foster, and a Fifties style vehicle by bus designer Capoco shared the top prize. They will each be awarded £25,000 although it was unclear whether their designs would have more than a glancing influence on the bus that ends up on London's streets.

Mr Johnson will set out the next steps in delivering his new bus during an awards ceremony in central London. "When I launched the competition, I asked for stylish and imaginative designs which would resonate with Londoners," he said. "We have had a phenomenal response, with ideas submitted from around the globe, and we now have, in our joint winners, two stunning designs that allow us to go forward and produce a truly iconic bus fit for 21st century London.

"I know that, like me, Londoners will be waiting eagerly to see how these ideas evolve into the final design that will appear on our roads." The winning designs will be passed on to bus manufacturers to develop into a final design. Transport for London expects to award a contract to build the first new bus for London towards the end of next year, with the first of the vehicles on the streets by 2011. The Mayor initially said the new Routemasters would cost £8 million to run with conductors but was later forced to admit the figure would be nearer £100 million.


Boris the Busman

Routemasters were phased out by former Mayor Ken Livingstone amid concerns about accessibility as well as safety questions over the "hop-on, hop-off" platforms. Mr Johnson made bringing in a new generation of the popular bus a key pledge of his election campaign. The winning design had to include an open platform to let passengers board and alight "quickly and easily", show "good use of interior space" and "accessibility", as well as including green technology and having a conductor. The judges particularly liked the rounded rear of the Foster/Aston Martin bus, designed by Todd Hutton, and its nod to the heritage of the original Routemaster by including wooden floors.




Capoco Routemaster Design

More modern aspects included solar panels built into the glass roof -although there have been concerns this could steam up in winter and make the bus top-heavy. The Capoco submission was praised for its technical excellence, in particular its light-weight structure and hybrid propulsion. It also had a separate door for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The bus would seat 66 passengers with room for 14 standing, compared with 72 seats and five standing on the old Routemaster. More than 700 entries were received for the competition.

The judges were the Mayor, his transport adviser Kulveer Ranger, Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy, TfL's head of surface transport David Brown, Clare Kavanagh and Mike Weston from London Buses and bus expert David Quainton.

Now the Celtic sage has previously cast a rather cold eye on the “New Routemaster” competition for it does rather beg the question if the “New Routemaster” is the answer what is the question?

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/10/bend-it-like-boris.html

Speaking as Boris Johnson announced the winners of his design-a-bus competition, Labour's transport spokesperson Val Shawcross said the "Routemaster" competition was not a serious way to make transport policy.


The Real Deal

"The design competition may have been fun and the winning designs are extremely impressive, but this is not a serious way to make policy and not a worthwhile use of public money. If Boris actually used London's buses or talked to those who do, he would see that London's existing fleet is modern, accessible and well-designed. I have yet to hear one convincing argument for why London needs a new double-decker bus and until Boris comes up with some Londoners will see this as little more than a vanity project. There is understandably a lot of nostalgia for the old Routemaster but nostalgia doesn't get people to work on time."

So what happens now?

Well the Mayor has sort of fulfilled his Manifesto commitment.

• There may be a new bus once somebody redesigns one

• And then builds it

• At some point in the future when the Mayor is safely out of office!

But here is a not untypical comment from the Evening Standard;

"Bendy buses are atrocious. I don't travel on them but they look so dangerous and it's like cattle class with nowhere to stand."

And that tells you great deal about the Bendy 'debate' – much of the debate has been informed by people who don't use the buses but now believe they can't sit down on them, can't stand up on them and that they might veer off the road and murder their children at the drop of a hat. So we end up with a pointless, expensive and patronising solution to a problem we don't have. As for the Routemaster debate let’s agree that the Routemaster (and the RT) were revolutionary 40 years ago with their narrow, compact design, light weight due to the use of aluminium (and a fibreglass bonnet) responsive engine and automatic gearbox. But they were a product of their time (and a massive centralised organisation which military style rebuilt them every 7 years) and the lack of access and running costs of having a conductor (who with Oyster would NOT take fares) cannot be justified today. More seriously what are the public safety implications of an open platform, who NOW designs a transport solution with a known fatal risk factor? It would be interesting to have a crystal ball and earwig how that one would play in a future court case?

And why do we believe that there is something so unique about the streets of London that it requires a special bus which by its very nature would fly in the face of procurement efficiency? Is this not a solution which would have obsolescence built in, another in a long line of British World Beaters which never beat anything?


The production model?

Bend it like Boris.

Bendy the Bus

London Mayor Boris Johnson's plan to scrap bendy buses will cost £60m + and is against Transport for London's (TfL) advice, opponents have claimed. Boris made an election commitment to “Scrap the Bendy Buses” and has launched a competition for a replacement design. Indeed having seen some of the entries so far the Celtic Sage is sorry he didn’t buy a new box of crayons and enter himself – although it has to be said that the artistic possibilities of drawing a Big Red Box with a wheel near each of the four corners are limited. However the Sage may be unduly pessimistic here for has not Damien Hirst achieved more with less?

Boris Johnson had vowed that his first act as Mayor of London would be to scrap bendy buses and replace them with a modern-day Routemaster. Mr Johnson said that the controversial buses were abused by fare dodgers and highly dangerous to cyclists.



Speaking at the first Tory candidate’s hustings meeting, the MP for Henley said that he would introduce a new version of the Routemaster bus that had been axed by Ken Livingstone. Their replacement would be fully accessible for the disabled and mothers with buggies. He said: "We should on day one, act one, scene one, hold a competition to get rid of the bendy bus. They wipe out cyclists, there are many cyclists killed every year by them. "It's not beyond the wit of man to design a new Routemaster which will stand as an icon of this city."
(http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/09/long-long-ago-ok-it-was-only-this-time.html )

Now talk (particularly election talk) is cheap but spending taxpayer’s money is another thing, especially now that we are in Credit Crunch Land. And all this begs the question of whether Bendy or not, London’s transport future should be fixed on putting BIG RED BOXES with 65% empty seats on the roads of London or if we should look for a better way?

At a time when people are being encouraged to leave the car at home, a "super bus" carrying nearly twice as many people as a double-decker would seem to be the answer. The bendy bus has had a troubled journey but it could soon be the end of the road for it in London. Does the shape of a bus really provoke such strong emotions? Enemies of the bendy bus have long been seeing red.

But in the cycling community there is a lot of anxiety about them. Some say the extra length means overtaking them at bus stops can be "terrifying" and there is the ever-present danger that drivers turn left without looking. But a spokesman for the London Cycling Campaign says while bendy buses can be awkward on narrow streets, Lorries are a far greater danger. And Lionel Shapiro, who has 60 years of cycling experience, says there is a lot of mythology about them. They actually "turn beautifully" round corners and sometimes collisions are purely the fault of the cyclist.


Bendymaster

The London Assembly Labour group said the Mayor is ignoring TfL's opinion that the buses pose no safety risk and they said that independent figures show getting rid of bendy buses on three services will cost an extra £13m a year, or £60m for all the routes.

A mayoral spokesman said Mr Johnson was not ignoring TfL advice. "TfL are currently evaluating tenders to operate services on two of the routes and trying to secure the very best deal for Londoners," the spokesman said. "This means it would be massively irresponsible to make public the figure TfL anticipate to be the cost of replacing bendy buses as it could affect the deals that bus companies have offered." He added that the mayor was determined to rid the streets of bendy buses in "the most cost-effective way".

TfL is currently consulting on proposals to remove bendy buses on three busy London routes, the 521, the 507 and the 38. Independent transport watchdog London TravelWatch, has estimated it will cost an extra £12m to £13m a year to replace bendy buses on those three routes alone. Using these figures, the assembly Labour group said to replace bendy buses on all the routes on which they currently operate would cost around £60m.

Earlier this month Janet Cooke, the chief executive of London TravelWatch, said they saw "no reason" to scrap the buses. Val Shawcross, Labour's transport spokeswoman, said Mr Johnson was ignoring professional advice from TfL officers, who earlier this year said the bendy bus was no more dangerous than any other bus in London. Ms Shawcross said: "The mayor seems determined to press ahead with his plans, no matter what the cost to Londoners.”He is letting his personal prejudice override any sense of reason and should return to the drawing board as soon as possible. It's not too late for him to change his mind."

However, whether the Mayor changes his mind or not the “Son of Bendy” competition will close at the end of this month and new designs continue to emerge. A PROPOSAL for a new electric Routemaster bus is unveiled today, complete with glass roof, optional solar panels and LCD screens showing route details. Passengers can hop on and off the German-designed e21 a crucial feature of the old Routemasters. But unlike the original, the e21 has a safety barrier that can be moved across the open doors in case of overcrowding.

The bus is also more accessible than the old model, with space for seven wheelchairs and a floor that lowers automatically by sensing the level of the kerb. Passengers on the top deck will be able to enjoy panoramic views through a transparent roof, which uses hi-tech insulation glass to protect them from heat and cold. Some sections of the roof will open like a sunroof and there will be the option of exchanging some of the panes for solar panels. To boost safety the e21 uses metal that absorbs frontal impacts and side parts made of plastics that can spring back into shape after a collision. The proposal was drawn up by designer Michael Kerz, a graduate of St Martin's design school, for a contest launched by Mayor Boris Johnson to find a 21st century version of the Routemaster. The classic vehicle was withdrawn from service by Ken Livingstone. Mr Johnson has pledged to revive it.


e21 - Der Routemeister?

The e21 can recharge its electric batteries in 10 minutes, with operating costs of a few pence per kilometre making the additional platform conductor even more affordable. Mr Kerz said: "A see-through roof or panoramic cabin is the obvious solution to satisfy tourists' needs." The e21 is one of a series of rival designs, including the H4, which boasts U-shaped seating and TV screens. Another by Foster and Partners has a glass roof. Judges are due to meet next week with a winner announced next month.

The Celtic Sage will leave himself open to accusations of using his immense influence to change the outcome but he has two favourites – The one with the smile on the front known as the “Bob the Builder” bus but which will be renamed “Bobski the Builder” if it is made in Poland. But the best of the old and new is the “Bendymaster”, a recycled (pair) of Routemasters with an articulated bit in the middle. Like looking at a Dyson Rollerball Hover (made in Malaysia) it provokes the oft asked question “Is there any end to Great British Genius?”


Smile, it is the “Bob the Builder” bus

However as the Sage has pointed out before he has an open mind on Bendy Buses as they do provide higher capacity on London’s streets and do address the very real problem of making public transport accessible for those who have impaired mobility in a country whose practical attitude to the disabled can only with kindness be described as disgraceful. The figure shows 10% of the population are classified as “mobility impaired” but, of course, this would constitute a higher proportion of the potential users of Public Transport and accessibility needs to be drastically improved to put the “Public” in “Public Transport”.

However the “Replacement Routemaster” competition may in the end may prove a non sequiter, empty sloganeering which, like the replacement bus, will end up going nowhere.

The London Tram

For there is a more fundamental problem with a combination of bus privatisation and the limited capacity of London’s streets. Bus privatisation has resulted in higher costs and differing standards as the recent strike by drivers protesting against different wages on different routes shows. The fundamental problem is the increases in bus capacity have been bought at the expense of an exponential increase in bus subsidy with some suggesting that the effective subsidy could be as high as £5 for each daily bus passenger? Also, because those who live in that great repository of Financial Genius and First Rate Minds, HM Treasury, insisted that the bus garages were sold off as part of bus privatisation so it is now difficult to have effective competition as new entrants won’t have garages. Simply put, buses are big boxes and you need somewhere to put these big boxes to sleep at night.


The route using the Kingsway Tram Subway


Tram Subway today


Tram Subway yesterday

So the solution may in part be to revive the tramway system. There is an Underground tram tunnel through Central London which directly connects with the Underground in the Kingsway Tram Subway and this could support a cross river North / South Tram connection with (say) 3 lines going north and south of the River Thames. If he Uxbridge / Shepherds Bush Tram proposal was revived to form an East / West Tramway going through Oxford Street and Holborn to Liverpool Street and Olympic East London you would have a very viable street level fixed link with modern Eco Friendly Trams which would address the capacity and accessibility problems of a bus only solution. A start has already been made as Cross River Tram is a proposal for a tram service running on-street between Euston and Waterloo, with branches to Camden Town and King's Cross in the north, and Brixton and Peckham in the south.

So the result of Boris Johnston’s “Replacement Routemaster” competition maybe a more informed and intelligent debate on the limitations and costs of moving Big Red Boxes around London. If this results in a revival of London’s Trams the Celtic Sage would regard this as a good result for London and Public Transport users!

Bend it like Boris.

Bendy the Bus

London Mayor Boris Johnson's plan to scrap bendy buses will cost £60m + and is against Transport for London's (TfL) advice, opponents have claimed. Boris made an election commitment to “Scrap the Bendy Buses” and has launched a competition for a replacement design. Indeed having seen some of the entries so far the Celtic Sage is sorry he didn’t buy a new box of crayons and enter himself – although it has to be said that the artistic possibilities of drawing a Big Red Box with a wheel near each of the four corners are limited. However the Sage may be unduly pessimistic here for has not Damien Hirst achieved more with less?

Boris Johnson had vowed that his first act as Mayor of London would be to scrap bendy buses and replace them with a modern-day Routemaster. Mr Johnson said that the controversial buses were abused by fare dodgers and highly dangerous to cyclists.



Speaking at the first Tory candidate’s hustings meeting, the MP for Henley said that he would introduce a new version of the Routemaster bus that had been axed by Ken Livingstone. Their replacement would be fully accessible for the disabled and mothers with buggies. He said: "We should on day one, act one, scene one, hold a competition to get rid of the bendy bus. They wipe out cyclists, there are many cyclists killed every year by them. "It's not beyond the wit of man to design a new Routemaster which will stand as an icon of this city."
(http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/09/long-long-ago-ok-it-was-only-this-time.html )

Now talk (particularly election talk) is cheap but spending taxpayer’s money is another thing, especially now that we are in Credit Crunch Land. And all this begs the question of whether Bendy or not, London’s transport future should be fixed on putting BIG RED BOXES with 65% empty seats on the roads of London or if we should look for a better way?

At a time when people are being encouraged to leave the car at home, a "super bus" carrying nearly twice as many people as a double-decker would seem to be the answer. The bendy bus has had a troubled journey but it could soon be the end of the road for it in London. Does the shape of a bus really provoke such strong emotions? Enemies of the bendy bus have long been seeing red.

But in the cycling community there is a lot of anxiety about them. Some say the extra length means overtaking them at bus stops can be "terrifying" and there is the ever-present danger that drivers turn left without looking. But a spokesman for the London Cycling Campaign says while bendy buses can be awkward on narrow streets, Lorries are a far greater danger. And Lionel Shapiro, who has 60 years of cycling experience, says there is a lot of mythology about them. They actually "turn beautifully" round corners and sometimes collisions are purely the fault of the cyclist.


Bendymaster

The London Assembly Labour group said the Mayor is ignoring TfL's opinion that the buses pose no safety risk and they said that independent figures show getting rid of bendy buses on three services will cost an extra £13m a year, or £60m for all the routes.

A mayoral spokesman said Mr Johnson was not ignoring TfL advice. "TfL are currently evaluating tenders to operate services on two of the routes and trying to secure the very best deal for Londoners," the spokesman said. "This means it would be massively irresponsible to make public the figure TfL anticipate to be the cost of replacing bendy buses as it could affect the deals that bus companies have offered." He added that the mayor was determined to rid the streets of bendy buses in "the most cost-effective way".

TfL is currently consulting on proposals to remove bendy buses on three busy London routes, the 521, the 507 and the 38. Independent transport watchdog London TravelWatch, has estimated it will cost an extra £12m to £13m a year to replace bendy buses on those three routes alone. Using these figures, the assembly Labour group said to replace bendy buses on all the routes on which they currently operate would cost around £60m.

Earlier this month Janet Cooke, the chief executive of London TravelWatch, said they saw "no reason" to scrap the buses. Val Shawcross, Labour's transport spokeswoman, said Mr Johnson was ignoring professional advice from TfL officers, who earlier this year said the bendy bus was no more dangerous than any other bus in London. Ms Shawcross said: "The mayor seems determined to press ahead with his plans, no matter what the cost to Londoners.”He is letting his personal prejudice override any sense of reason and should return to the drawing board as soon as possible. It's not too late for him to change his mind."

However, whether the Mayor changes his mind or not the “Son of Bendy” competition will close at the end of this month and new designs continue to emerge. A PROPOSAL for a new electric Routemaster bus is unveiled today, complete with glass roof, optional solar panels and LCD screens showing route details. Passengers can hop on and off the German-designed e21 a crucial feature of the old Routemasters. But unlike the original, the e21 has a safety barrier that can be moved across the open doors in case of overcrowding.

The bus is also more accessible than the old model, with space for seven wheelchairs and a floor that lowers automatically by sensing the level of the kerb. Passengers on the top deck will be able to enjoy panoramic views through a transparent roof, which uses hi-tech insulation glass to protect them from heat and cold. Some sections of the roof will open like a sunroof and there will be the option of exchanging some of the panes for solar panels. To boost safety the e21 uses metal that absorbs frontal impacts and side parts made of plastics that can spring back into shape after a collision. The proposal was drawn up by designer Michael Kerz, a graduate of St Martin's design school, for a contest launched by Mayor Boris Johnson to find a 21st century version of the Routemaster. The classic vehicle was withdrawn from service by Ken Livingstone. Mr Johnson has pledged to revive it.


e21 - Der Routemeister?

The e21 can recharge its electric batteries in 10 minutes, with operating costs of a few pence per kilometre making the additional platform conductor even more affordable. Mr Kerz said: "A see-through roof or panoramic cabin is the obvious solution to satisfy tourists' needs." The e21 is one of a series of rival designs, including the H4, which boasts U-shaped seating and TV screens. Another by Foster and Partners has a glass roof. Judges are due to meet next week with a winner announced next month.

The Celtic Sage will leave himself open to accusations of using his immense influence to change the outcome but he has two favourites – The one with the smile on the front known as the “Bob the Builder” bus but which will be renamed “Bobski the Builder” if it is made in Poland. But the best of the old and new is the “Bendymaster”, a recycled (pair) of Routemasters with an articulated bit in the middle. Like looking at a Dyson Rollerball Hover (made in Malaysia) it provokes the oft asked question “Is there any end to Great British Genius?”


Smile, it is the “Bob the Builder” bus

However as the Sage has pointed out before he has an open mind on Bendy Buses as they do provide higher capacity on London’s streets and do address the very real problem of making public transport accessible for those who have impaired mobility in a country whose practical attitude to the disabled can only with kindness be described as disgraceful. The figure shows 10% of the population are classified as “mobility impaired” but, of course, this would constitute a higher proportion of the potential users of Public Transport and accessibility needs to be drastically improved to put the “Public” in “Public Transport”.

However the “Replacement Routemaster” competition may in the end may prove a non sequiter, empty sloganeering which, like the replacement bus, will end up going nowhere.

The London Tram

For there is a more fundamental problem with a combination of bus privatisation and the limited capacity of London’s streets. Bus privatisation has resulted in higher costs and differing standards as the recent strike by drivers protesting against different wages on different routes shows. The fundamental problem is the increases in bus capacity have been bought at the expense of an exponential increase in bus subsidy with some suggesting that the effective subsidy could be as high as £5 for each daily bus passenger? Also, because those who live in that great repository of Financial Genius and First Rate Minds, HM Treasury, insisted that the bus garages were sold off as part of bus privatisation so it is now difficult to have effective competition as new entrants won’t have garages. Simply put, buses are big boxes and you need somewhere to put these big boxes to sleep at night.


The route using the Kingsway Tram Subway


Tram Subway today


Tram Subway yesterday

So the solution may in part be to revive the tramway system. There is an Underground tram tunnel through Central London which directly connects with the Underground in the Kingsway Tram Subway and this could support a cross river North / South Tram connection with (say) 3 lines going north and south of the River Thames. If he Uxbridge / Shepherds Bush Tram proposal was revived to form an East / West Tramway going through Oxford Street and Holborn to Liverpool Street and Olympic East London you would have a very viable street level fixed link with modern Eco Friendly Trams which would address the capacity and accessibility problems of a bus only solution. A start has already been made as Cross River Tram is a proposal for a tram service running on-street between Euston and Waterloo, with branches to Camden Town and King's Cross in the north, and Brixton and Peckham in the south.

So the result of Boris Johnston’s “Replacement Routemaster” competition maybe a more informed and intelligent debate on the limitations and costs of moving Big Red Boxes around London. If this results in a revival of London’s Trams the Celtic Sage would regard this as a good result for London and Public Transport users!