Borris Bus

[pethadine82]

Does the Boris bus have open doors just like the old routemasters where you can hop on and hop off.

 

[user15681]

Yes, just like the old style.

 

[transmanche]

Does the Boris bus have open doors just like the old routemasters where you can hop on and hop off.

Yes the rear set of doors is left open, but only when there's a customer service assistant present to supervise boarding/alighting. When there's only a driver, all three sets of doors will be opened/closed by the driver as per a 'normal' bus.

 

[deltic]

Yes and No

As transmanche says it depends whether there is a customer service assistant aboard. On the latest route to go over to a Boris Bus - the 148 there is no customer service assistant and the service operates with the rear door closed at all times (except obviously at bus stops). Most Boris Bus routes also have no customer service assistant at weekends or evenings.

Another classic politicans vanity project which has wasted and continues to waste millions of pounds

 

[jopsuk]

"hop on hop off" was, as I understand, not legal anyway, actually rarely done and had a high injury rate among those that tried.

As for the "open platform" on the lard masters, on several routes that they've been deployed on they're running one person operation mode where the door is fully operational- ie it only opens at stops.

 

[Deerfold]

"hop on hop off" was, as I understand, not legal anyway, actually rarely done and had a high injury rate among those that tried.

It certainly wasn't rare in my experience. It was not officially condoned but if a bus was caught in traffic or at traffic lights there'd often be people getting on.

 

[Mojo]

Another classic politicans vanity project which has wasted and continues to waste millions of pounds

As a frequent London bus traveller I find these buses simply a cut above the rest. The buses seem to glide quietly along the road without the roaring engines; over the last few months have been nice and toasty on board (something I could probably only say about 5% of "conventional" buses I have been on this winter); the seats are comfortable and space for customers well-proportioned; they seem to be quicker at stops due to the multiple staircase and door arrangement; and I've yet to come across one with the 'rattling panel syndrome' which seems to affect 99% of all buses in the country.

 

[90019]

As a frequent London bus traveller I find these buses simply a cut above the rest. The buses seem to glide quietly along the road without the roaring engines; over the last few months have been nice and toasty on board (something I could probably only say about 5% of "conventional" buses I have been on this winter

That's probably more to do with them being new and having more spent on maintainence due to the vanity aspect, and because of the hybrid system.

and I've yet to come across one with the 'rattling panel syndrome' which seems to affect 99% of all buses in the country.

It'll only be a matter of time.

 

[starrymarkb]

The windows are a bit small aren't they!

 

[bb21]

over the last few months have been nice and toasty on board (something I could probably only say about 5% of "conventional" buses I have been on this winter);

Being nice and warm in winter is not the problem with London buses.

Just wait till June.

The windows are a bit small aren't they!

Are they? I didn't get a chance to observe from the inside considering that the only one I have had the (mis)fortune of catching so far broke down after less than 50 yards.

 

[Robertj21a]

They'd be a lot more acceptable to many if they did away with the Boris-isms. It really doesn't need an open platform nowadays (we've done without for some years) and the associated costs for the 'conductor' make it ridiculously expensive to run.

The interior is very drab and the seating capacity is poor - at least the artics could clear massive queues far quicker.

Robert

 

[Mojo]

Being nice and warm in winter is not the problem with London buses.

Just wait till June.

I was sweltering on an Enviro 400 whilst on my way to a well known supermarket this morning; the 'Borismaster' was cool and breezy in comparison.

My garden thermometer has just hit a beautiful 19 degrees Celsius, and there's not a cloud in the sky.

 

[bb21]

the 'Borismaster' was cool and breezy in comparison.

I certainly hope they have fixed it if they are going to put 600+ of them on the streets, after the shenanigans last summer.

 

[transmanche]

The windows are a bit small aren't they!

Seem big enough to me:

 

[Nym]

Supprised no-one has yet mentioned the abysmial legroom in the back seats and lack of small luggage space downstairs (due to fixed seats rather than the usual cantilivered ones)...

 

[starrymarkb]

Seem big enough to me:

It looks like they are different heights depending on the side of the vehicle - the ones on the drivers side are lower then on the kerb side (that must really help the spares inventory!)

 

[Robertj21a]

Seem big enough to me:

I guess they are referring to the shallow windows on the upper deck.

Robert

 

[user15681]

I don't like the breeze that can be experienced when the rear doors are open. Even upstairs it can be a little chilly. When closed, they're fine. Still, it should work in favour in the summer.

 

[transmanche]

I guess they are referring to the shallow windows on the upper deck.

Well yes, they're smaller than the downstairs windows - but about the same size as those on a Routemaster.

 

[Mojo]

That's probably more to do with them being new and having more spent on maintainence due to the vanity aspect, and because of the hybrid system.

It'll only be a matter of time.

One possible explanation; but having travelled on one earlier today, I noticed that all the panels are affixed with screws rather than the usual clips as seems to be the case on other buses. Additionally the panels have some kind of rubber or fabric seals rather than the usual straight wood on wood, or plastic on plastic, that you get on other buses.

 

[PermitToTravel]

It certainly wasn't rare in my experience. It was not officially condoned but if a bus was caught in traffic or at traffic lights there'd often be people getting on.

I regularly board and alight from stationary AEC Routemasters where it is more convenient for me to do so. I quite like the ability to do so on some Borismaster routes, but a lot of the time the rear door is closed and I can't do this
For two weeks last year, I had a commute that made it advantageous for me to board a moving Borismaster as it turned a corner. I only failed once

Speaking objectively, non-DOO buses are a terrible idea.

 

[BestWestern]

Speaking objectively, non-DOO buses are a terrible idea.

Please... They are OMO, not DOO!

 

[Nym]

Shouldn't that be OPO?

 

[bb21]

Used interchangeably.

 

[Deerfold]

Used interchangeably.

You won't find OMO on the TfL website (unless someone has made a boo boo).

 

[Yew]

I used one last month, they seemed alright.

One would hope that, since they are more expensive than other busses, they are well made and will last.

However I didnt get to use the platform

 

[TEW]

It's especially important that they last well as, unlike other London buses, I can't see them being readily deployed elsewhere in the country.

 

[simple simon]

LT150 (vehicle reg: LTZ1150) has been painted in an eye-catching red and silver livery. This is in connection with 2014 being the year of the bus.

A short film with both still image photos and video of this vehicle can be seen here.

http://youtu.be/ojX2RfjKaMQ

btw, I like this livery. To my eyes it looks better than plain red!

Simon

 

[jon0844]

Wow, bar the back that looks awesome!

 

[user15681]

LT150 has been knocking around in silver for some time now. I'm not sure what to make of it. I like how bold it is and for me, personally, the silver emphasises the curves and structures more than the plain red. I'm not sure I like the color combination of red, silver and black though. It'll grow on me, I'm sure.