Forum Topic

Farewell Boris Buses

Despite them being a monument to one man's idiocy and the dangers of populist policy making, I will miss the Boris Buses when they go from the High Road - although this might be a while yet as they still seem to be running on the H91 route.The were quirky and illogically designed but the redundant rear door at least brought back memories of the pleasure of riding on the original Routemaster. I'm sure the new replacement buses will be easier to drive, cheaper to run and will have properly functioning air conditioning but they will be a bit dull by comparison.

Francis Rowe ● 7d13 Comments

I was surprised at the lack of space when sitting opposite someone on the bus - I expected there to be some space between our knees! I think people are taller not just bigger elsewhere!  Children definitely aren't often seen with those knobbly knees showing below their shorts as we all had in the 50s/60s/70s!

Philippa Bond ● 2d

While many of us recall what fun it was to jump on and off the open rear platform of an old London bus, however convenient it might have been in slow moving traffic, in must have been ridiculously dangerous.  For Boris to spend so much trying to recreate that experience, complete with a jolly on-board conductor who didn't have anything to do with tickets, was a ludicrous expense. As I recall, when Ken Livingstone was London Mayor, he was initially keen to keep the original Routemasters, but once it had been pointed out how dangerous they were, and with no disabled access, he started getting rid of them and brought in the BendyBuses as a short term fix.

Peter Evans ● 6d

I concur,brevity being the soul of wit.

Keith Iddon ● 6d

...the indicident I witnessed when somebody jumped off the back of a routemaster after they thought it was "safe to do so" was a collision with a taxi cab.I also watched a 60/70 year old man trying to get off the back of a routemaster on oxford street once, he wasn't very agile and as he stepped off the bus was moved forward with a jump and he nearly fell out, he did end up on the road outside the bus, but on his feet thankfully. I was sitting on my bike behind the bus waiting for him to complete his attempted dismount, as a cyclist I was VERY sensitive to being near routemasters due to seeing this sort of thing many many times.I did sugegst to him he's not allowed to get off the bus between stops, and his wife turned to me, and I thought she was going to agree with me, but she just looked me in the eyes and growled "F**k off".

Paul James ● 6d

“ and straight into the path of a cyclist or motorcyclist.”Yes, it always amazes me at the number of moronic cyclists tailgating buses and  trucks.

Steve Taylor ● 6d

I also use to catch the 88 to school but at the other end of the route in tooting. Until your comment (and a quick internet check to verify) I had no idea it ran all the way to Acton Green. That’s quite a journey.

David Turner ● 6d

>modern passengers were not capable of making sensible decisions regarding their own safety in the way that those of the 1950s and 1960s were, and kept the doors closed except at bus stops.I bet just as many people got hurt and injured in the 50's and 60's jumping off the back of a routemaster as they did in the 90s, maybe more.>Back in the day I would have just been able to get off via the rear platform when I judged it safe to do so....and straight into the path of a cyclist or motorcyclist. I've seen quite a bad crash involving a passenger exiting the back door as they "judged it safe to do so"... it wasn't, it never was, nobody ever looked back, only forwards."The total number of incidents of deaths and injuries (both passengers and staff) on Routemasters is around 2 times that on doored buses.", Mayor's question time 27 February 2002

Paul James ● 6d

That nasty incident you suffered surely justifies the changes in design recommended and brought in by the "Elf" people.

Denis I. Fox ● 6d

I remember my schooldays, getting the 49 from Shepherds Bush Green  the bus would pull up , conductor would holler " 5 standing inside , no standing on top" nostalgic but modern buses are a big improvement in terms of capacity, you.dont see.many people being left at the bus stop.

David Burke ● 6d

I too loved the old Routemasters and don't remember the seating arrangements being potentialy dangerous.I suppose that they were slightly smaller with lower passenger capacity than the modern ones.I think though that as the size of the average person has increased,the size of the seats has decreased.It may just be my impression,but I certainly feel a little more cramped.

Keith Iddon ● 6d

I too had great memories of the old Routemasters, that was until I remembered running along the Strand after one and thinking I'd securely grasped the pole. I hadn't. The shame lasted a little longer than the grazes on my knees.

Gordon McDonald ● 6d

I loved the old routemasters. I used to get the 88 to school and would often chase one from Acton Green to Turnham Green Terrace before jumping on the back.You could also smoke upstairs at the back.Happy days.

Dominik Klimowski ● 7d

By modern standards, the original Routemasters were a downright dangerous design too. However I remember fondly the ability to get on and off via the open rear platform when the bus was stationary in traffic or at lights, and liked the idea of being able to do the same on the Boris buses, before the dreaded safety 'Elf' decided that modern passengers were not capable of making sensible decisions regarding their own safety in the way that those of the 1950s and 1960s were, and kept the doors closed except at bus stops. I recall relatively recently being stuck in heavy traffic in a bus on the Euston Road and having to plead with the driver to open the doors so I could get off and walk to Euston station to avoid missing my train. Back in the day I would have just been able to get off via the rear platform when I judged it safe to do so.

Richard Greenhough ● 7d

Downright dangerous design if you ask me.The rear seat facing backwards with a glass plate in front of it? Serious head injuries waiting to happen.

Keith Iddon ● 7d