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Goodbye Routemaster :-(
Today the last Routemaster leaves regular service (159 from Marble Arch).
I am sad. I like Routemasters. I like the open platform, the conductors, the fact that there's actually a decent number of downstairs seats.
I'm not a "TfL is evil for withdrawing them" person. Disabled people can't get on, and that is a problem. (The open back platforms aren't. If people jump off in moving traffic they deserve to get hurt.) I think that it's more about finance than they want to let on, since Routemasters require 2 man operation.
What really bothers me is that no one's come up with a decent replacement. Modern double deckers suck, especially some of the layouts (Arriva has some bad ones) which have loads of luggage space, but only about 3 seats in front of the rear doors. Bendy buses don't have enough room inside and cause major traffic jams--Oxford Street is even worse now that the 73 and 25 have gone bendy.
I am sad. I like Routemasters. I like the open platform, the conductors, the fact that there's actually a decent number of downstairs seats.
I'm not a "TfL is evil for withdrawing them" person. Disabled people can't get on, and that is a problem. (The open back platforms aren't. If people jump off in moving traffic they deserve to get hurt.) I think that it's more about finance than they want to let on, since Routemasters require 2 man operation.
What really bothers me is that no one's come up with a decent replacement. Modern double deckers suck, especially some of the layouts (Arriva has some bad ones) which have loads of luggage space, but only about 3 seats in front of the rear doors. Bendy buses don't have enough room inside and cause major traffic jams--Oxford Street is even worse now that the 73 and 25 have gone bendy.