No29 bus Green Lanes 8-9-8

Comment by StephenBln on September 25, 2008 at 0:03

Articulated buses are not bad.. They just have not been used on ideal routes in London. The 12, 18, 25, 29, 36, 38, 53, 73, 149 & 207 are all 'long standing' routes (not meant as a pun) and have built up very large clientele bases over the years.

The 29 is quite a complicate route.. Most 'longriders' would be better off using the Underground which more or less parallels it at both ends..
I would personally split the 29 into three overlapping routes: 29/1 Victoria - Camden Town - Finsbury Park (allstops with bendy-buses). 29/2 Camden Town/Mornington Crescent - Finsbury Park - Wood Green (allstops with bendy-buses) 29/3 Trafalgar Square - Camden Town - Wood Green (Limited stop service with D/Ds suitable for longriders). This of course would be more expensive to run than the current service. That is the reason articulated buses were used in the first place.
It's all very well being populist and saying the Bendy Buses are going to go. But where is the money coming from to increase the service?
The two Red Arrow routes 507 & 521 have just come up for re-tendering and although they are ideal services for bendy-buses, the tenders have gone out for D/D buses.. BUT the operators have been told that the Bendy-buses might be given reprieve IF they can prove that is more cost effective to keep them..

So don't hold your breath waiting for the bendy buses to go.. In the current financial climate.. there won't be much money to throw about to increase services as needed if the Bendy buses are to go.. I think Boris has just been handed an ideal excuse, if he can't achieve the replacement..

Comment by RuthE on September 25, 2008 at 13:37

I like the bendy bus (despite occassional dragging of pedistrian/death of cylcists) its far more pleasant to ride then the old buses and theres plenty of seats and the capacity for atleast two wheel chair users and several prams and people with loads of shopping. Boris is just trying to win the support of the idiots who want the route masters back

Comment by StephenBln on September 25, 2008 at 14:00

Despite all the hype.. conductors won't make a comeback.. They make the running of each bus mile twice as expensive.. And as most people have pre-paid tickets these days.. They wouldn't have much to do.. apart from chatting up the passengers (meant in the nicest sense) or perhaps TfL should employ big butch 'security guard type' conductors, who say.. "you ain't gettin' on mate, no jeans allowed" :o)

Comment by Sapphireblue on September 26, 2008 at 0:22

If I have the time I would rather take the bendy bus for my occasional but regular trips to somewhere near Trafalgar Square. I can look at the sky at Finsbury Park, the architecture - its all interesting all the way to Traf sq. Much better than walking miles underground and getting there quicker like a bloody mole. I get the 29 at the end of my road, practically. Even though I narrowly missed being knifed in a gang fight once on the 29 last year, I still prefer it. Gosh Stephen you seem to know all the facts and figures...

Comment by StephenBln on September 26, 2008 at 8:52

To replace the bendy buses with traditional D/Ds you'd have to increase the service if you want to keep the same 'available capacity' on the 29.
Either other services would have to be cut down to provide extra drivers and vehicles or there'll have to be more investment. I wouldn't mind betting which it will be...
I've always been interested in, as well as being a supporter of good public transport systems. To think it all started out by collecting bus numbers at Manor House and on Green Lanes :o)

Comment by Sapphireblue on September 26, 2008 at 18:14

Stephen... you are a font of knowledge - but... go on admit it perhaps just a bit nerdy.....jolly useful and informative one though lol

Comment by pvig73 on November 14, 2008 at 9:20

I can't stand the bendy buses to be honest. I prefered it when the 29 was a double decker. Do the bendies have as many seats as a double? It doesn't seem to so but the amount of space can be deceiving. I think because crime was so rife on the 29 during the DD days, that's why they changed it to the Bendies.

I remember when the 29 was a Routemaster and it went from Enfield Town to Victoria. One LONG route eh!!!

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