It's become rather strange.
The 38 has died and been reborn as a bendy.
Just one bus route remains as a Routemaster.
It's a little snapshot of my life.
When I was a child and lived way oop north, we would occasionally visit relatives in Thornton Heath - or Forn Eaf, as it's more properly known.
In those days, the 159 ran from Thornton Heath Pond to St John's Wood. Past the Oval, over Westminster Bridge, round Trafalgar Square, to Madame Tussauds, and I expect, to Lords and Abbey Road Studios.
Bu the time I moved to Streatham, the 139 had been invented and the 159 was running from Streatham Garage to Baker Street. Streatham Garage's closed, so the 159 is based at Brixton Garage, confusingly situated on Streatham Hill. However, there are too many buses for Brixton Garage and they were causing congestion on the A23. So there is now an overflow Brixton Garage, on Brixton Garage, in the old LCC tramsheds
When I lived in Streatham, near St Leonard's, to get the 159 often meant the day started well. It sped up Streatham High Road, and often stopped at the lights right outside Streatham Hill station, sometimes making the difference between catching that train or having to wait as much as 19 minutes for the next one. Conversely, how irritating is it to be on a 159 that decides to change its driver and guard at Brixton Garage, when all you want to do is pop down to buy a few things in Streatham.
Anachronistically, the ticket machine on a 159 cannot distinguish between peak and off-peak, so if you get that bus, as opposed to any other, before 9.30, your Oyster Prepaid only debits the off-peak fare. It all comes out on the wash by the end of the day, though, as Oyster caps my prepay to the Travelcard rate. I no longer even monitor my Oyster; every ten days or so, I get an email to say that £20 has transferred from my bank account to my Oyster Card. Cool, or what (I got a free tenner the first time I did this...).
A certain non-Observant newspaper claimed yesterday that the demise of the 38 was the end of Routemasters in London. Lazy journalism. Pretty much par for the course.
I'm angry that we have our residential Unit Conference on the days leading up to 9 December. Yes, I'll be home by the evening. But by then it will be too late. It will be a Big Day. And I shall miss it. The 159 is, technically, my home-to-work bus, although I rarely use it as such.
I don't know if we go bendy or double-decker.
Progress must proceed. The Routemasters are narrow, probably not fuel efficient, not especially accessible, and dangerous, it seems, as people fall off the back. Their advantages in easy-boarding and speed down the roads are being eroded, rightly, with the reduction - and, in the central area, elimination - of cash fares on board. With an Oyster prepay, there is no need to pay a cash fare. With improved bus lanes, especially on the A23 and over Vauxhall Bridge, there is a distinct advantage in travelling by bus, any bus.
But the Routemasters are iconic. My Grandad used to drive one in Salford. I have three toy Routemasters on display in my home.
Just 39 days to go
Diamond Geezer blogs the 38 by Routemaster and Bendybus
