Where do you Sit on a Double Decker?

[Busaholic]

I always use the lift provided to the upper floor, where available

 

[richw]

Usually downstairs, at the front on the right hand side.

Me too!

 

[carlberry]

Usually upstairs with the stairs in front of me - usually find the legroom is a little better on those seats.

If I'm at work, downstairs front seat usually works best for me - my passengers start to complain otherwise!

K

You have ones that don't complain?

 

[CD]

I never sit upstairs at the front on a decker. Rather sit 3 or 4 seats back on the offside.I have had 3 occasions where the front screen has shattered after contact with overhanging branches. Twice on Olympians and once on a Gemini. Anyone who has witnessed this would be unlikely to sit at the front again.

 

[satisnek]

A double decker?? Ah yes, I saw one in Derby this evening (Arriva). The truth is, the only time I travel on double deckers is heritage railway shuttles and suchlike, where the top deck always fills up first! On the rare occasions I'm first or second on, then I do indeed go for top deck, front. Failing that, the seat behind the stairwell seems to be popular, and I can agree with this, otherwise it's any free seat on the top deck for me!

 

[GusB]

I have the Enviro500s on my local route, downstairs at the back is a must... Those things make a bloody glorious sound!

Sometimes though when you get a more tuneful example sitting in the middle is better!

Pretty much the closest "modern" thing (in terms of sound) to the old Grampian E Reg Olympians.

I forget which engines those E500s have - is it the Cummins ISL?

My most recent double-deck journeys were last summer, on the 11 from Nairn to Inverness . While it's mainly single-decks on that route, a couple of times they stuck a decker on. I had my first journey on an E400, and a endured a decrepit Trident/ALX400 (ESKsomething). Neither was a pleasant experience!

 

[Jordan Adam]

I forget which engines those E500s have - is it the Cummins ISL?

My most recent double-deck journeys were last summer, on the 11 from Nairn to Inverness . While it's mainly single-decks on that route, a couple of times they stuck a decker on. I had my first journey on an E400, and a endured a decrepit Trident/ALX400 (ESKsomething). Neither was a pleasant experience!

E500s do indeed have the 9 litre Cummins ISL rated at 380BHP, mated to the ZF Ecomat 6HP-602C gearbox.

The E400s at Stagecoach North Scotland are in appalling condition, the Trident/ALX400s are generally better but there is the odd shed going about!

 

[73001]

In the days of "proper" big engines, preference was downstairs at the back. These days - er, what's a double-decker?

Snap. . Lots of happy memories of being deafened on Atlaneans or VRTs and being amazed at the amount of movement between the chassis and the body on bumpy roads. Living out in the sticks at the time I always found the motion upstairs on these more solid buses made me feel a bit ill.

 

[JL1]

No where because we don't get double deckers on my route

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I never sit upstairs at the front on a decker. Rather sit 3 or 4 seats back on the offside.I have had 3 occasions where the front screen has shattered after contact with overhanging branches. Twice on Olympians and once on a Gemini. Anyone who has witnessed this would be unlikely to sit at the front again.

I've had a branch strike that has heavily cracked the window, but I still sit up there for the view...

If you're up there for the view then you should be able to see anything like that coming with enough time to duck down given that you'd be watching forwards the whole time.

 

[Aictos]

Depends, if I'm not familiar with the bus route then front left or front right however if it's a route I'm familiar with then I sit anywhere bar the driver's seat or the bus roof!

 

[AM9]

Not many DD buses round here, (except contract school buses) and none on routes that I go on. When I'm in the smoke, if more than a few stops, I prefer US front (whichever side has the most legroom) for a nostalgic view. If they are not empty the first row after the stairs because there is a clear view with no seats immediately in front for 2-3m. If I'm on a heritage RM, then back seat is good but nowhere as good as the back seat of an RT with padded arm rests either side.
Also on open-platformed heritage DDs, the 4 (or 3-seats) can be interesting.
I do remember as a child sitting in the window seat behind the driver as I could see the speedo and him changing gear, (RTs again).

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've had a branch strike that has heavily cracked the window, but I still sit up there for the view...

If you're up there for the view then you should be able to see anything like that coming with enough time to duck down given that you'd be watching forwards the whole time.

I must admit there are routes in London where they feel a bit close because of the lean left due to the road camber. On the Kingsway it would make a lot more sense to have the bus lanes up the middle to avoid this and to avoid taxis blocking the bus lane - let the private transport with driver block the other private transport instead.

 

[LOL The Irony]

By the engine.

 

[route101]

Sitting at the back on a decker in Glasgow is always Russian roulette for people who may cause trouble . I feel sitting right at the front is akin to sitting front row in cinema. Prefer to be 3rd row back at least . On a busy decker , sitting in the middle usually works as most people will plump for seat at front or walk to back and plump there. Sitting opposite from stairs means you dont have someone across or diagonally behind.
Other things , dont really like it when someone is diagonally behind you , ie you in the window and them in aisle .

On singles i go to the bit where it starts to raise , but not the ones where you have the wheel arch at your feet thats uncomfortable.

 

[route101]

I have the Enviro500s on my local route, downstairs at the back is a must... Those things make a bloody glorious sound!

Sometimes though when you get a more tuneful example sitting in the middle is better!

Pretty much the closest "modern" thing (in terms of sound) to the old Grampian E Reg Olympians.

Aye , great sound . Shame Glasgow lost them , look so big in Aberdeen . Upstairs for me in them , plenty of seats

 

[Jordan Adam]

Aye , great sound . Shame Glasgow lost them , look so big in Aberdeen . Upstairs for me in them , plenty of seats

Indeed, the main factor for taking them on is the great seating capacity which is needed for the northern end of the route to Danestone & Ashwood. Sadly their overall capacity lets them down a bit when it comes to the RGU and King Street peak runs, where the Artics are far better suited. Of course another plus with the E500s is that they can be used on all routes where as the Artics are restricted from the 19 and 20 due to the tight termini at Culter (19) and the narrow streets of Old Aberdeen (20).

 

[WatcherZero]

I take a double decker to work everyday and its an approximately 1 hour journey.

I always sit half way down on the left of the lower deck for five reasons:

1. All the schoolkids use the upper deck and its noisy.
2. You get far more swaying effect on the upper deck.
3. Whats the point of taking the steps if you don't have too and being further away from the exit (for the same reason I will always sit on the train where I know will be the closest door to the platform exit of my destination).
4. Far easier to see when the stops coming up on the left, on the right your view forward is obstructed.
5. If you sit over the wheel wells and particularly the rear ones you get loads more vibrations

 

[philthetube]

Not really sure why people are referring to left or right hand side when that depends on which way you are looking (as you get on or once you've sat down).
Why is nobody using nearside/offside ?

nearside/offside wouldn't mean anything to non drivers, and not to many non professionals either.

 

[route101]

Anyone been on a decker thats toppled?

 

[WatcherZero]

I will just get into my offside drive car then...

 

[Mag_seven]

I always sit towards the back on the RHS facing direction of travel so I can see whats on the other side of the road.

When i was a kid I used to love the downstairs bit of an "open rear platform" bus at the front to the left of the driver where you looked out over the bonnet.