trib767

As most Londoners will know, we are to sadly lose the icon of London on Friday, December 9th. The famous London Bus, the Routemaster, will be no more because it has been phased out to be replaced by a square box on wheels.

I found this site and wanted to share it, as I think it is a really good snapshot of an icon. http://www.routemasters.co.uk

The Routemaster, imho, is one of the greatest design icons of recent years and is known worldwide as the symbol of London. Friday will be a tearful day.

maleficent

So the double decker buses will be no more? Oh how sad...

my condolences...

__________________

Cynthetiq

they have been slowly phasing them out with articulated or bendy buses.

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

Furry

And there goes another piece of my cultural identity... blasted Whitehall Mandarins...

__________________
Furry is the leader of his own cult, the "Furballs of Doom". They sit about chanting "Doom, Doom, Doom".
(From a random shot in the dark by SirLance)

Charlatan

I thought they were going to keep a small number running on one route... for old times sake.

It's too bad. I really liked riding in them.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

trib767

There are two "heritage routes" that will run between 9am and 6pm but these each have only 5 RMs. They have, however, been re-painted in the livery of their heyday and look quite splendid. http://tfl.gov.uk/buses/ini-heritage-buses.asp

ziadel

wtf is a whitehall mandarin???

__________________
Ron Paul '08
Vote for Freedom
Go ahead and google Dr. Ron Paul. You'll like what you read.

Cynthetiq

actually it's not much different than the original Checker cabs that used to patrol the NYC... those went away quite some time ago.

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

Craven Morehead

That's sad. Kind of like if San Francisco shut down the cable cars.

Sometimes progress sucks.

maleficent

I was just thinking that-- checker cabs I really missed especially if you had more than a few people with you... I miss the jump seats...

__________________

highthief

Wow! Am I glad I took my wife and daughter on one when we were in London in September, hearing this news.

__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum.

Furry

A useless bureaucrat or advisor (The derived expression mandarin has a chinese root) within Whitehall (One of the London political power centres) with no real purpose other than to propose new shiny, popular PC initiatives which are either unimplementable, unworkable, break or don't do anything new, often at a very high cost. Associated with New (sic) Labour.

This is an almost perfect example of the kind of proposal they can come up with.

__________________
Furry is the leader of his own cult, the "Furballs of Doom". They sit about chanting "Doom, Doom, Doom".
(From a random shot in the dark by SirLance)

Cynthetiq

the SF Cable cars are historical landmark status. A shame that no one did that for the double decker buses.

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

jbw97361

well I guess I won't be going to London anytime soon now.

__________________
JBW

-Ever-

Wow that's saddening. Anyone have a link to an article about the shut down?

__________________
Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster...
--Acknowledge your weaknesses--

aKula

In other news the eiffel tower will be replaced by a new modern television mast. Even if the buses needed replacing, they should have kept the old design and simply upgraded the engines or something.

__________________
"I am the wrath of God. The earth I pass will see me and tremble." -Klaus Kinski as Don Lope de Aguirre