[Kzin]

Red London Routemasters Get a Send-Off

By Jill Lawless
The Associated Press
Friday, December 9, 2005; 8:03 AM

LONDON -- Fans of London's double-decker Routemaster buses were out early on a foggy morning Friday hoping to catch a ride on the last day of regular service after half a century. The red Routemasters, with their conductors and hop-on, hop-off open platforms, were scheduled to make their last regular trip at midday.

"It's a sad day. The buses have all been overhauled and they were OK for several more years," said Rustom Battiwalla, 37, a former bus driver who came to London on Friday from the western city of Bristol.

London transport authorities say the venerable vehicle cannot accommodate disabled people and must be replaced by more user-friendly buses _ either boxy modern double-nobody or articulated, Mercedes-Benz "bendy buses."

After Friday, Routemasters, once the workhorse of London's public-transport system, will remain only on two central London "heritage routes" aimed at tourists.

"We are losing so much of our tradition. You would think we would want to carry on with the Routemasters," said Fred Martin, 59, who came from the eastern city of Norwich hoping for a last ride.

Dave Weston, 49, from Swanley southeast of London, said he had come into the capital for several "last runs" by Routemasters on various routes.

"All these Routemasters have a history. They all mean something. The new buses just don't have that sort of pedigree," Weston said.

The last bus designed specifically for London, the Routemaster entered service in the mid 1950s as a replacement for electric trolley buses. Supporters say its light but durable aluminum frame, fuel efficiency and easy-to-repair components make it a classic piece of British design.

Its passing has inspired an orchestral requiem, books and photographic tributes.

Generations of travelers have loved the bus for the ease of hopping on and off, and for the conductors who dispense tickets _ and often travel information _ once passengers are seated.

The bus making the final journey Friday along route 159 from Marble Arch to Brixton was RM2217, manufactured in 1968 and the last Routemaster ever built. The driver was Winston Briscoe, 62, who came to Britain from Jamaica in 1962. The conductor was Lloyd Licorish, 61, who immigrated from Barbados in 1965. Many London Transport staff were recruited from the Caribbean after World War II.

Not everyone was sad to see the venerable buses go.

"Those who defend the Routemaster should have a long hard think about the impact of their views," said Bert Massie, chairman of the Disability Rights Commission. "Wanting to hang onto a vehicle that many people can't use is based on the principle of segregation _ in effect you cut off a large number of people from using one form of transport."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...120900318.html

[Rodd]

You can bet NYC will buy them and use them as tourist buses to help kill a few people every year like our current doubledecker tourist buses do.

[Niklut]

Do that many handicaped people ride the bus? My home city just has seperate transportation for handicaped people. And it is run by the same people who run the regular busses. And there is even a seperate organization that provides transportation specificly for the blind.

[Cerven]

Originally Posted by Niklut

Do that many handicaped people ride the bus? My home city just has seperate transportation for handicaped people. And it is run by the same people who run the regular busses. And there is even a seperate organization that provides transportation specificly for the blind.

The sad fact remains that if there's a bitter enough disabled person who wants to make a stink about something like the Routemaster system, they can probably make something happen in order for politicians to avoid a possible political stigma: "You don't care about disabled people."

[380]

Originally Posted by Cerven Del'paro

The sad fact remains that if there's a bitter enough disabled person who wants to make a stink about something like the Routemaster system, they can probably make something happen in order for politicians to avoid a possible political stigma: "You don't care about disabled people."

disabled people are easy to coax over to the stairs though. one push, and they're taken care of. no problems.

[Cerven]

Originally Posted by Teuf

disabled people are easy to coax over to the stairs though. one push, and they're taken care of. no problems.

Good thinking!

[tkups]

WE ARE HERE TO PROTECT YOU.
WE ARE HERE TO PROTECT YOU FROM THE TERRIBLE SECRET OF SPACE.

[Xytroncore]

Originally Posted by RodFlanders

You can bet NYC will buy them and use them as tourist buses to help kill a few people every year like our current doubledecker tourist buses do.

Is that because of the open top on the NY busses (and people jumping/falling off) or do they run over people or something?

[rub the bear]

"Those who defend the Routemaster should have a long hard think about the impact of their views," said Bert Massie, chairman of the Disability Rights Commission. "Wanting to hang onto a vehicle that many people can't use is based on the principle of segregation _ in effect you cut off a large number of people from using one form of transport."

What a fag.

Hey Bert Massie, I don't think crippled people should be able to use wheelchairs. Wanting to hang onto a vehicle that many people can't use is based on the principle of segregation.

[Rodd]

Originally Posted by Xytroncore

Is that because of the open top on the NY busses (and people jumping/falling off) or do they run over people or something?

Dude they take corners and mow down babies and shit!

[ChristmasJoe]

It's a BUS, people...