The Length Of London's Bendy Buses Explained

The bendy bus, or articulated bus, was a feature of London's roads from 2001 to 2011. These buses were 18 metres long and could carry 140-144 passengers, as well as multiple pushchairs and wheelchairs. They were introduced to improve accessibility and increase capacity on some of London's busiest routes. However, they also proved controversial, with some claiming they were a hazard to cyclists and caused increased fare evasion.

The London bendy bus is 18 metres or 59 feet long

The official name for the bendy bus is the "articulated bus", as it has a pivoting joint in the middle that allows it to bend and navigate corners more easily. These buses were introduced in London in 2001 as a trial on route 207 between Shepherd's Bush and Hayes-By-Pass. They were brought in to increase passenger capacity and improve accessibility for the elderly, disabled people, and those travelling with small children.

The bendy bus certainly had the capacity to carry a lot of people. It could hold over 140 passengers, compared to 77 on a double-decker bus. This meant that it could suck up crowds on some of London's busiest routes. However, its length also caused some issues. The bendy bus took up more road space per vehicle, and its increased size made it more likely to block junctions and cause problems for other road users, especially cyclists and motorcyclists.

The bendy bus's length also contributed to its eventual withdrawal from service in London. During the 2008 mayoral campaign, Boris Johnson pledged to remove these buses from the city's streets, and they were gradually phased out starting in 2009. The last bendy bus ran on route 207 in December 2011, bringing their time in London to an end.

Despite their length causing some issues, the bendy buses did offer a unique and spacious travelling experience on London's busy roads.

They were introduced in London in 2001/2002

Colloquially known as "bendy buses", articulated buses were introduced in London in October 2001. Two Wright Eclipse Fusion bodied Volvo B7LAs were hired from First Hampshire & Dorset, with one repainted in First London's red livery. Additionally, six Wright Fusion bodied Volvo B10LAs were sourced from First Glasgow for a trial on route 207, travelling between Shepherd's Bush and Hayes-By-Pass.

The introduction of the bendy bus in London was a significant event, attracting a lot of press attention. This was because, while articulated buses had been standard in several other countries for over 20 years, their use in the United Kingdom had been limited. The bendy bus was a sign of booming times for Transport for London (TfL), with rising passenger numbers and fare revenues, allowing the transport authority to experiment.

In June 2002, new Mercedes-Benz Citaro O530Gs were introduced on Red Arrow services 507 and 521. The bendy buses were then introduced on other busy routes, including 12, 18, 25, 29, 38, 73, 149, 436, and 453. Almost 400 brand-new, fully accessible bendy buses served London's streets from 2002 to 2011.

The bendy bus was a "crowdbuster", with a length of 18 metres, and the ability to carry 140-144 people, multiple pushchairs, and wheelchairs. They were added to twelve of London's busiest routes to accommodate large numbers of passengers. The low-floor design of the buses also improved accessibility for disabled people, the elderly, and those travelling with small children.

However, the bendy buses also faced several issues during their time in London. Their large size meant they were more likely to block junctions and cause difficulties for other road users, particularly cyclists and motorcyclists due to blind spots and reduced driver viewpoint. There were also concerns about increased fare evasion as passengers could enter through any door, leading to the nickname "The Free Bus".

They were withdrawn from London in 2011

Colloquially known as "bendy buses", articulated buses were withdrawn from London in 2011. The last bendy bus ran on route 207 on December 9, 2011, and was replaced by regular double-decker buses. The withdrawal of these buses from London was the result of a pledge by then-Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who deemed them unsuitable for the city.

Johnson's pledge to withdraw the bendy buses was part of his 2008 mayoral campaign, and he cited concerns about their impact on cyclists and their large size, which caused issues for other road users. The removal of these buses from London was completed by December 2011, earlier than the initially announced timeline of 2013 or 2015.

The bendy buses were unique due to their multiple doors and simultaneous boarding, allowing faster passenger loading than conventional double-decker buses. Each bus could carry over 140 people, significantly more than the 77 passengers of a Routemaster. Additionally, their low-floor design improved accessibility for disabled individuals.

However, despite their advantages, the bendy buses also faced challenges. Their length of 18 metres took up more road space per vehicle compared to Routemasters (18 metres vs. 9.1 metres) and double-decker buses (10 metres). This increased vehicle size led to concerns about junction blockage and difficulties for other road users. There was also negative press coverage regarding cyclists and motorcyclists, with the buses' reduced viewpoint for drivers and higher chances of cyclists entering blind spots.

Furthermore, the introduction of these buses in London led to increased fare evasion, as passengers could enter through any door. This resulted in the nickname "The Free Bus" among Londoners. The issues with fare evasion added to the case for their withdrawal.

The removal of the bendy buses from London was not without controversy. Research by London TravelWatch indicated that the withdrawal could be costly for Transport for London (TfL), with an estimated additional cost of £12.6 million per year to replace the articulated vehicles on certain routes while maintaining overall route capacity.

Following their withdrawal from London, the bendy buses found new homes in other parts of the UK and abroad. Some were transferred to cities like Brighton, Birmingham, Bristol, and Liverpool, while others were exported to countries like Malta. Despite the initial reluctance of some cities to adopt them due to their association with Johnson, they found success in certain routes, particularly those serving large facilities like universities and airports.

They were called The Free Bus because of increased fare evasion

The "bendy bus" was introduced to London in 2002 as a new form of public transport. The articulated bus, with its flexible body and multiple doors, was designed to increase passenger capacity and speed up boarding and alighting. However, one of the most notable features of the bendy bus was its open, ticketless boarding system. This design, intended to facilitate faster journeys and ease of use, quickly led to increased fare evasion, with many passengers taking advantage of the lack of ticket checks and boarding for free.

The issue of fare evasion on the bendy buses became so prevalent that they earned the nickname "The Free Bus." Stories and anecdotes of people riding without paying abounded, and it became something of an open secret among Londoners that one could often get away without paying the fare. The design of the bus, with its multiple doors and lack of physical barriers, made it difficult for inspectors to check tickets effectively, and the high passenger volume made it easy for fare evaders to blend in.

The problem of fare evasion on the bendy buses was not just a matter of a few individuals taking advantage of the system. It is estimated that fare evasion on the bendy buses cost Transport for London (TfL) millions of pounds in lost revenue each year. This loss of income, coupled with the negative perception of the buses as "free for all," led to a significant backlash against the bendy bus scheme. Many saw the high rate of fare evasion as symbolic of a larger breakdown in social order and respect for authority.

In response to the fare evasion issue and the broader public perception of the bendy buses, TfL took several measures to try and address the problem. This included increasing the presence of ticket inspectors and even trialing a system of ticket barriers on some buses. However, these efforts had limited success, as the design of the buses and the high passenger volume made effective fare enforcement challenging. Ultimately, the bendy buses were phased out, with the last one retiring in 2011, replaced by a new fleet of double-decker buses with stricter fare enforcement measures.

They were replaced by conventional single and double-decker buses

The "bendy bus" was introduced to London in 2002 as a new type of articulated bus with a unique design. With a length of 18 meters (59 feet), these buses were much longer than the traditional single-decker or double-decker buses commonly seen on London's roads. The bendy bus could carry more passengers, with a capacity of up to 140 people, and offered improved accessibility with low floors and wider doors.

However, despite their high capacity and unique design, the bendy buses were not without controversy. One of the main issues was their length, which made maneuvering through London's narrow and congested streets challenging. The buses often struggled to navigate tight corners and caused congestion on busy routes. In addition, the bendy buses were criticized for their lack of stability, with some reports of them swaying or leaning excessively on turns, raising safety concerns.

The maintenance and operational costs of the bendy buses were also significantly higher than those of conventional buses. The unique design and specialized parts of the bendy buses made repairs and maintenance more complex and expensive. Additionally, the high passenger capacity of the bendy buses was not always utilized efficiently, as they often ran only partially filled during off-peak hours.

As a result of these issues, Transport for London (TfL) made the decision to phase out the bendy buses and replace them with conventional single and double-decker buses. The process began in 2011, and by 2014, all bendy buses had been retired from London's roads. The replacement buses offered improved maneuverability, with shorter lengths that made navigating the city's streets easier. They also addressed the safety concerns raised by the bendy buses' stability issues and provided a more comfortable and familiar traveling experience for passengers.

The conventional single and double-decker buses that replaced the bendy buses offered a range of benefits that better suited London's transport network and passenger needs. With improved maneuverability, safety, and cost-efficiency, the replacement buses provided a more reliable and comfortable traveling experience for Londoners.

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