Bendy buses

[stuu]

Not really - that was a factor Boris liked to blow out of proportion in his efforts to be elected Mayor...
London binned them because of Boris.

Everywhere else, realistically, has binned them because of the higher operating costs

He claimed in his election propaganda that they were killers for cyclists. Unsurprisingly for a man of his character, this was a total lie, no cyclist was killed by them in TfL service

 

[Busaholic]

There were a couple of other issues for the bendy buses in London too; the narrow streets in London, & Central London in particular are not suitable for bendys. It only needed a couple of bendys in heavy traffic to block junctions waiting for traffic to clear resulting in chaos. Fare evasion was rife too, as you weren't allowed to pay on board, and ticket inspectors were spread few & far between. I think the route 25 got an unfortunate nickname because of this, when bendys were introduced on that route


Another issue, i got motion sickness when sitting at the rear of a bendy bus once.

You couldn't pay cash on board, so a precursor to today's situation on all London buses.

The 73 seemed to regularly clip kerbs and mount pavements on some of the tighter turns (I know from first hand experience) so they seemed dangerous to more than just cyclists. I am assuming the other routes were the same, but that was the one I used most frequently.

The 73 also had the nickname 'seventy-free' on account of the ease at which you could travel without paying. What did they call the 25?

Uno bus picked up a number of bendies in recent years, and there are some photos/video of at least one on fire near the University of Hertfordshire campus. I am pretty certain they're all gone now, and even when in operation they were mostly shuttles aimed primarily at students rather than the general public.

The 38 and 73 were the worst routes for the bendies imo, and those were the routes, along with the 25, which required the highest percentage increase in PVR on replacement.

 

[jon0844]

If bendybuses were so dangerous to cyclists and rife with fare evasion, I doubt they’d be so popular on the continent, where some places even have double-bendy buses.

The roads are likely a lot different. A lot of European cities have very wide roads with wide pavements and huge junctions where there's no chance of mounting the pavement or clipping traffic islands.

As for fare evasion; who knows - but I know that a lot of countries are very zero tolerance with fare evasion, and deal with things there and then - perhaps helped by many countries having ID cards.

I don't think anyone said bendy buses were bad, rather they were pretty terrible in London and other specific locations.

 

[randyrippley]

Stagecoach tried using bendies in Lancaster during Uni freshers week years ago, partly as an advertising stunt.
They caused so much chaos in the narrow one way system that the police intervened.
After one day they disappeared, never to return

 

[Simon75]

I'm sure another issue I read, was due to the extra space they use up in a garage, one or 2 were opened in London due to bendies. The other issue I read too was maintainece areas were too short for them

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

In Glasgow they were banned from Buchanan bus station as they kept breaking down and causing blockages.

 

[Kieran1990]

First still have them in Leeds.

It has been a good few years since we lost the bendies in Leeds.
The last route to see them was the 72.
Previously service 1 had 4 or 5 bendies allocated - they were great people eaters when the Uni students were here.

 

[GALLANTON]

Bendy Buses are not dangerous in any way.

 

[Robertj21a]

In Glasgow they were banned from Buchanan bus station as they kept breaking down and causing blockages.

That's interesting, never knew that. Any idea when they were banned as they were still running in to Buchanan Bus St'n when I went to look (some years ago now!)

 

[Stan Drews]

That's interesting, never knew that. Any idea when they were banned as they were still running in to Buchanan Bus St'n when I went to look (some years ago now!)

I don’t recall them being completely banned, however there were only certain stances that they allowed to operate from. The Stagecoach bendies continued to use Buchanan Bus Station every day up until they were replaced naturally.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

Hi All,

Don't know if anyone here has heard the sad news (to me), that the bendy buses in Cardiff are stopping on the 29th january.

I just wondered why they were being replaced, is it down to old age?

I also would like to know if there are any artic buses running in Bristol still?

Tom

One of the Cardiff bendy buses is now with Portsmouth City Coaches, no idea what they intend to do with it.

Brighton and Hove were still using articulated Citaros last summer.

Never really understand why the British have not taken to them. Almost seems to be a self perpetuating myth that they are bad, yet many cities have used them successfully. Bath, for example, has seen them navigate the relatively narrow streets well. Overseas I rode a few in Malta, they seemed to do okay until 3 went up in flames in a weekend and the government pulled the plug on them.

The Citaros seemed to get a bad rep for fires, something that seemed to affect all models in the range. Equally there are a fair few Tridents which have been lost to fires, but do not seem to attract the same media hysteria.

 

[PG]

The Citaros seemed to get a bad rep for fires, something that seemed to affect all models in the range. Equally there are a fair few Tridents which have been lost to fires, but do not seem to attract the same media hysteria.

Re the media, either they:

• blame a double decker fire on yobs upstairs

or

• haven't got over the second world war and the Citaro is of German origin

 

[DerekC]

I was sitting in the front left hand seat on a 507 in London in the bendy era. It was carved up by a Mercedes sports car pulling away from a stop, but the driver got his own back on the roundabout at the south end of Lambeth Bridge, wrapping his bus neatly round the car in heavy traffic. I heard him mutter "He forgot that my Mercedes is bigger than his Mercedes".

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

I don’t recall them being completely banned, however there were only certain stances that they allowed to operate from. The Stagecoach bendies continued to use Buchanan Bus Station every day up until they were replaced naturally.

Bendy coaches were allowed but bendy buses were banned.

 

[GusB]

Bendy coaches were allowed but bendy buses were banned.

It was said earlier that the articulated coaches were allowed to operate from certain stances. If the operators of articulated buses only operated from the non-permitted stances then it stands to reason that they couldn't be used, but this does not imply that they were banned completely.

Do you have any evidence to back up your claim?

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

It was said earlier that the articulated coaches were allowed to operate from certain stances. If the operators of articulated buses only operated from the non-permitted stances then it stands to reason that they couldn't be used, but this does not imply that they were banned completely.

Do you have any evidence to back up your claim?

I don't but it was mentioned in the old blood bus forum when the bendy buses were withdrawn from the the 9 as the reason why by several members.

 

[jon0844]

Bendy Buses are not dangerous in any way.

You can say a gun isn't dangerous too. The buses do what they do, and the danger comes from their inappropriate use (including the quality of the driving, some of which will be influenced by local conditions like traffic or parking).

For a lot of London they were dangerous, even if there weren't loads of accidents. If someone has to jump back because a bus clipped a kerb and mounted a pavement, I'd say that's dangerous even if nobody was hurt.

I have nothing against bendy buses that work brilliantly in many places (especially airports) and are just one tool amongst the box.

 

[CornwallBus]

Horses for courses at the end of the day. I've been lucky enough to drive Citaro and Volvo bendy buses in the rurality of Cornwall, they are great people shifters at big events or emergency covers for rescuing passengers of a broken down bus, but you've got to have the skills to reverse and remember you are 18m long!

Shame they are now a distant memory!

 

[Steddenm]

Belfast have recently introduced bendy buses on Glider services. They're fitted out inside like a tram rather than a bus though and Translink advertise them as a hybrid tram/bus although they don't run on tracks or dedicated busways.

 

[Mikey C]

More likely the best tool for the job. You need a vehicle that is high in capacity to move lots of people a short distance with easy access as they have loads of baggage so can't climb stairs.

Airport car park and terminal shuttles are a very different environment from normal bus routes too, being self contained and not fighting for space with lorries, delivery vans, cycles etc, or going around tight corners and traffic islands

 

[JumpinTrainz]

That's interesting, never knew that. Any idea when they were banned as they were still running in to Buchanan Bus St'n when I went to look (some years ago now!)

The B10LAs were used out of Parkhead Depot when they arrived in 1999. They were regulars on the 40, 61 and 62 routes before they were sent down south only to return years later to Scotstoun Depot for use on the 9. I liked them but I think Glasgow streets were way too narrow for them. They certainly made for an interesting change.

 

[Robertj21a]

The B10LAs were used out of Parkhead Depot when they arrived in 1999. They were regulars on the 40, 61 and 62 routes before they were sent down south only to return years later to Scotstoun Depot for use on the 9. I liked them but I think Glasgow streets were way too narrow for them. They certainly made for an interesting change.

How strange that you mention narrow streets in Glasgow. I travelled on those routes some years ago and never noticed any real problems.
Someone else has mentioned turning, without apparently realising that it's only the front section that matters (the trailer just follows) - and that bit is shorter than things like rigid 12m.

 

[Paul Jones 88]

I miss the bendy buses on Route 149, Edmonton Green to London Bridge. They were very smooth and comfortable, everyone could sit down downstairs and I'd meet some fascinating characters to talk to. It's not quite the same on the double deckers.

 

[Simon75]

I'm surprised no one (unless I've didn't see), the main issue are the design of most bus stations as Drive in/ Reverse out, and the the design/space of some layover spaces

 

[carlberry]

To go back to the reason for the original post, Cardiff Bus has given details of the journeys that the bendis are aiming to operate tomorrow, including a one day return to the Cardiff Bay route.

https://www.cardiffbus.com/farewell...JzxUAPAWTirLmvOeV6cZTvje3qtKG5pg9UVYJ7aMz0Aq0

Operation of these distinctive vehicles will finally come to an end, with the last day of operation being the 29th January 2022. In the short-term services 17 and 18 will be operated using double deck buses that can carry up to 99 customers and around 3 or 4 pushchairs.


If you'd like to take a last ride and bid farewell to the bendy buses on 29th January, here are the routes and times that they will be running on Saturday 29th January*:

See the website for the actual times as they might get updated.

 

[anthony263]

To go back to the reason for the original post, Cardiff Bus has given details of the journeys that the bendis are aiming to operate tomorrow, including a one day return to the Cardiff Bay route.

https://www.cardiffbus.com/farewell...JzxUAPAWTirLmvOeV6cZTvje3qtKG5pg9UVYJ7aMz0Aq0


See the website for the actual times as they might get updated.

Here are the timings:

Service 6 Baycar times from Wyndham Arcade (stop JE)
08:10; 08:40 then at 10 and 40 mins past the hour until 14:10

Service 6 Baycar times from Wales Millennium Centre
07:55; 08:25; 08:55 then at 25 and 55 mins past the hour until 14:25

Services 17 & 18 times from Westgate Street (stop KL)
08:00 (18); 08:05 (17); 09:00 (17); 09:06 (18); 09:42 (18); 09:54 (18); 10:00 (17); 10:06 (18); 10:42 (18); 10:54 (18); 11:00 (17); 11:06 (18); 11:12 (17); 11:48 (17); 12:00 (17); 12:06 (18); 12:12 (17); 12:18 (18); 12:54 (18); 13:06 (18); 13:12 (17); 13:18 (18); (13:24 (17); 14:00 (17); 14:12 (17); 14:18 (18); 14:24 (17); 14:30 (18); 15:06 (18); 15:18 (18); 15:24 (17); 15:30 (18); 15:36 (17); 15:48 (17); 16:12 (17); 16:24 (17); 16:30 (18); 16:36 (17); 16:42 (18); 16:54 (18); 17:18 (17); 17:28 (17); 17:32 (18); 17:42 (17); 18:32 (17); 18:47 (18); 19:40 (18); 20:00 (17); 20:40 (17); 21:00 (18); 21:30 (17); 22:00 (18); 22:30 (17); 23:00 (18); 23:30 (18)

Service 17 times from Ely (Green Farm Road, Western Cemetery)
06:30; 07:30; 08:30; 09:27; 10:30; 11:30; 11:42; 12:18; 12:30; 12:42; 13:42; 13:54; 14:30; 14:42; 14:54; 15:54; 16:06; 16:18; 16:42; 16:54; 17:06; 17:48; 17:58; 18:12; 19:02; 20:24; 21:04; 21:54; 22:54

Service 18 times from Heol Trelai (Cyntwell Avenue)
07:24; 08:24; 09:08; 09:20; 09:32; 10:08; 10:20; 10:35; 11:11; 11:23; 11:35; 12:35; 12:47; 13:23; 13:35; 13:47; 14:47; 14:59; 15:35; 15:47; 15:59; 16:59; 17:11; 17:23; 18:01; 19:16; 20:09; 21:24; 22:24; 23:24; 23:54

 

[alex397]

So, it appears the only places with bendy buses in service on public bus routes (that are not airport car park shuttles or airside), are Aberdeen, Brighton and York. Is this correct? Is there now nowhere else that has them?

EDIT: Not forgetting Northern Ireland, where they have the Glider buses in Belfast. Made to look like trams which is just pointless really.

Didn’t Connexions Buses use a bendy bus in public service recently - and do they still do so?

I’m also tempted to count Luton, as the shuttle between the Airport and Parkway Station is technically an ordinary bus service that anyone can use (ENTCS passes can be accepted, whereas that is not the case on car park shuttles).

Referring to Brighton, these Citaro bendies are about 15 years old now. They will surely be replaced in the next few years. I doubt Brighton & Hove will be buying brand new bendy buses. I thought maybe they were used due to height clearance issues at the university (the road goes under buildings in places) - but no, as double deckers do operate on the 25 in the late evenings, and double deck routes 5B and 23 serve the campuses as well.
It’s not as if the bendies on the 25 are used to quicken boarding times either - they only have two sets of doors and entry is only at the front, so no different to any other bus with passengers each having to scan their passes by the driver. I watched this evening in Brighton - a large crowd getting on the bendy, but all slowly through the front door.

The most efficient use of a bendy bus is to use all doors, or more than one door, for entry. But this is the UK where that’s considered unacceptable, but considered completely acceptable throughout most of the continent. Of course, many roads are just not built for them in the UK, but certainly not everywhere. There are quite a few bus routes in the UK where bendies would be really well suited like Brighton’s 25.

 

[gingerheid]

If bendybuses were so dangerous to cyclists and rife with fare evasion, I doubt they’d be so popular on the continent, where some places even have double-bendy buses.

The exist in some number in Tallinn. It's a beautiful city that I'd encourage you to visit, but one where I'd warn you off both attempted fare evasion and cycling

 

[Strathclyder]

Further to the point of bendy buses apparently being banned from Buchanan Bus Station, this seemed to have been - at least temporarily if it had been in force to begin with - lifted during the Commonwealth Games in the summer of 2014 when McGill's put their ex-Centrewest Citaros to use on the numerous shuttle services. They seemed to use stances 23-32 (usually used for tour coaches & service buses/coaches on layover between duties) like the rest of the shuttle services to/from the station and even used the gated exit on North Hanover St when the main one on Killermont St was overcrowded (linked image copyright of Flickr's haley111).

McGill's J3614 (LK05FDF)

A former First London Mercedes Benz Citaro Artic leaves Buchanan Bus Station, Glasgow by unfamiliar means (the side gate directly into North Hanover Street). This exit is used when the main exit is overcrowded and reversing from the stance becomes rather tricky. Bus Station staff were on hand to...

www.flickr.com

 

[delt1c]

Some bendybuses went to Malta and were just as controversial regarding accidents and fires

The reason the Bendy uses were disliked here in Malta was due to services they were put on , extremely narrow streets with tight turns and some steep hills which with a full load were difficult to climb. As for accidents they were no worse than any other bus. The fires Were the final
Nail and after a 3rd fire were immediately with drawn.
What amazes me is that other countries worldwide have been using bendies for many years sucsesfully yet the UK deemed them unsuitable