While I was baffled that such a nuts and bolts issue should win him so much support among voters at the time, a conversation with a cab driver during the election persuaded me that this was no small issue. Cab drivers loathe the bendy buses because they make dangerously wide turns and block intersections. Often half of a bus makes it through a light but the rest chokes off traffic at critically busy intersections such as at Bank-Monument. Cyclists get caught on both the inside and the outside of a bendy-bus’s turning radius.
But aside from solving some of the problems of bendy-buses, the new Routemaster promises to bring a touch of class to your ride.
The new Routemaster is designed in part by (the man himself) Lord Foster and takes the best design elements from the old Routemaster. The Independent reports that the new Routemaster will have a rear entrance, wood floors, and, thankfully, a conductor. The importance of having a rear entrance can only be understood when running after a bus- you don’t have to dash the extra few feet to get to the front before the bus pulls away.
Hiring conductors for the new Routemasters may also provide a small but welcome relief to London bus riders. The few classic Routemasters currently in service primarily carry tourists at off-peak times. However, there is an argument to be made that having a conductor (in addition to the driver), even on busier routes, will add a level of civility to bus riding in London.
It is understandable that the harassed-looking drivers on newer buses rarely have the patience to deal with passengers digging in their pockets for change, stop fare evaders and direct confused tourists all whilst keeping the bus on schedule. On classic Routemasters that run the number 9 and 15 lines, conductors make sure that passengers have all boarded before giving the go-ahead to the driver. Then, once passengers are seated, conductors patiently make change and swipe oyster cards. This system might not work on a standing-room-only rush hour 8 or 55 bus, but it’s worth a try.
At least on this one issue, Boris has it right. Having conductors is surely worth the investment and has the potential to bring a little bit of human interaction back into a transit system in which your every move is recorded by a computer but drivers are surprised when you say good morning.
E. Mattiuzzi
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