Bus Route 12 to get Boris Buses

[Earl Aelfheah]

It was funded from the rail services budget, despite the fact that many argued that it was actually a tourist attraction and not a viable piece of transport infrastructure. Current figures bear out this claim - indicating that there are zero regular commuters using the 'dangleway' (and actually very few tourists). This sums it up: http://853blog.com/2014/12/16/emirates-air-line-cable-car-now-has-no-regular-commuters/

Boris is doing the same with the Garden Bridge - funding another vanity project by raiding the transport budget. It's pretty out of order in my view, but he seems to be able to do these things with impunity.

[Earl Aelfheah]

.... made worse by the fact that there is acute need for investment in 'real' transport infrastructure, not least in SE London.

[DulwichFox]

It would seem that with Boris branding it a jump on/off bus that it was never meant for long journeys.

ie. Dulwich to West end..

I have yet to travel on one but as I seldom travel on public transport preferring to walk on short journeys

they may well be scrapped before I get around to it.

I actually liked the Bendy Busses as when I was still working I always managed to get a seat.

DulwichFox

[uncleglen]

Doesn't matter how they try to improve the infrastructure- it's obsolete 5 years before it's finished in London

[kd13]

More info :

http://adf.ly/UqlO2

[JohnL]

Another negative I'm afraid

If someone eats food - you can't open a window :(

[TheArtfulDogger]

If I had my choice Boris would reinstate the original routemasters but that can't happen so I suspect there is no point whinging about the new ones as the opinions of people on here are not going to change the decisions made by tfl.

Lol feels like the Luddites when the first weaving machines were introduced, what next? cries of "burn the evil machines" as residents of East Dulwich village march on camberwell bus garage with pitchforks in hand?

[DulwichFox]

Well with reduced speed limits fares may well increase when some loony suggests

TFL must employ someone to walk in front of every bus with a red flag to warn cyclists and pedestrians.

Foxy

[Nigello]

JohnL - That's why there should be a ban on food and drink on all public transport. (Someone on the Bakerloo line took out a Big Mac and ketchup the other day! I asked him whether he thought that was a good idea on a crowded, already warm and unventilated train and he looked sheepish but carried on. I moved.)

[tfwsoll]

Does anyone know whether we will ever be rid of these buses? I caught one from Oxford Circus today and it was stifling hot, I got back pain from sitting in the impossibly uncomfortable seats, and from what I can see, very few people tapped in so tfl must be losing as much money as they did with the bendy buses. It was a relief to get on a 40 at Medlar Street

[Pickle]

I used to frequently use the 12 bus, but now avoid it as much as possible since the new buses came in - one of my kids ended up travel sick when sitting upstairs due to the heat (she's never been sick before on buses/cars etc), and I find it really overwhelming and almost claustrophobic in the routemaster. It's ok for a short trip to Peckham, but horrible if you have to go any further.

[mancity68]

Horrid stinky things. I try to avoid if at all possible

[tfwsoll]

What I find aggravating is that they were supposed to have conductors, be air conditioned and allow hop on hop off from the rear platform. I haven't been on one that has a conductor, the air conditioning never seems to work - and you can't open the windows - and the rear doors are always firmly shut. In fact the drivers tend not to open the rear door at all, even when passengers want to get off. When they do open it, there is now an announcement telling you to move away from the door because it sweeps across the platform.

[TheArtfulDogger]

Can I suggest that people make their views known to TfL especially about the heat / lack of AC as they may be able to do something about it...

[Nigello]

Someone tole me there was an article in The Times (which I do not subscribe to) that all the Boris buses in service will have no conductors. Would love to know what Heatherwick, the man behind the design, things of that.

http://www.valshawcross.com may be able to help anyone who wants to complain about the buses or offer suggestions.

[TB2]

Not happy with the 12? This saturday (5/9/15) Camberwell bus garage (round the corner from Camberwell Green) has an open day from 1100 to 1500. Alternatively why not sign up with the on line bus community at http://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/join_london_bus_users_online_community ?

[Earl Aelfheah]

Nigello Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Someone tole me there was an article in The Times

> (which I do not subscribe to) that all the Boris

> buses in service will have no conductors. Would

> love to know what Heatherwick, the man behind the

> design, things of that.

> http://www.valshawcross.com may be able to help

> anyone who wants to complain about the buses or

> offer suggestions.

Yep. Heard this too. So the 'hop on, hop off' feature will be completely removed. What is left is an extremely expensive folly / vanity project.

[neilson99]

The 12 is my San Quentin. A living hell I have to endure twice daily. Road works at Elephant & Castle make it pitiful! What on earth are TFL doing?

[Callie]

I'm really surprised no one's mentioned the horrible noise of the engine or air con or whatever it is that comes on. I really feel sorry for anyone who has to endure it every day going to work. I only travel now & again & it dose my head in. I think I'd much rather prefer no air con (which doesn't work anyway) & have windows that open instead & no noise pollution!

[Bic Basher]

BBC London are reporting that all Boris Buses will be retrofitted with windows that can be opened.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Exactly how much have these ridiculous vanity buses cost us now? Boris should be held to account for once the bumbling tw*t.

[Bic Basher]

rahrahrah Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Exactly how much have these ridiculous vanity

> buses cost us now? Boris should be held to account

> for once the bumbling tw*t.

It's going to cost London taxpayers ?2m to replace the windows.

[Lowlander]

Bic Basher Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> rahrahrah Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Exactly how much have these ridiculous vanity

> > buses cost us now? Boris should be held to

> account

> > for once the bumbling tw*t.

>

> It's going to cost London taxpayers ?2m to replace

> the windows.

Seriously how much would it be to install proper air-con? I was in Hong Kong in 1994 where the buses had sealed windows and ice-cold air-con in tropical conditions.

[spanglysteve]

As i understand it, they do not want to install air-con as it goes against what they are trying to achieve environmentally.

Although that strategy is a bit hit and miss as both the underground and forthcoming cross rail will have air-con.