London, once the home to a fleet of distinctive articulated buses affectionately known as “bendy buses,” saw these iconic vehicles gradually disappear from its streets in 2011, marking a significant change in the city’s public transportation landscape. Now, the iconic red Routemasters have taken their place, but the story of what happened to the bendy buses is one of transformation and change.
Before Boris Johnson became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, he served as the Mayor of London. During his 2008 mayoral campaign, he made a firm pledge to remove the bendy buses from the streets of London. Johnson voiced concerns that these buses posed a safety hazard to cyclists, with accusations circulating at the time that they were responsible for cyclist fatalities. Subsequently, it was revealed that these claims were not substantiated by facts.
The removal of bendy buses from London’s streets was not solely driven by Johnson’s campaign promise. Safety concerns played a pivotal role in the decision to phase out these buses. Between December 2003 and March 2004, several fires occurred on bendy buses, raising alarm about their safety. As a result, a temporary removal from service allowed for safety modifications to be implemented.
Once Johnson assumed office, he expedited the removal process, initially planning to phase out all bendy buses by 2013 but ultimately moving up the timeline to 2011. His commitment to this endeavor was evident when he referred to the bendy buses as “writhing whales of the road (which) have swung their hefty rear ends round our corners for the final time.”
Following their retirement from London’s streets, the bendy buses found a new lease of life in Malta, where they served for some time. However, this second life came to an end in 2014 when the Maltese transport ministry banned the 81 bendy buses due to safety concerns, including fires and accidents.
Subsequently, many of London’s bendy buses met different fates. Some were relegated to storage, while others found themselves abandoned in yards. Their legacy lives on through the memories of Londoners who once relied on these distinctive vehicles to navigate the bustling streets of the British capital.
Before Boris Johnson became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, he served as the Mayor of London. During his 2008 mayoral campaign, he made a firm pledge to remove the bendy buses from the streets of London. Johnson voiced concerns that these buses posed a safety hazard to cyclists, with accusations circulating at the time that they were responsible for cyclist fatalities. Subsequently, it was revealed that these claims were not substantiated by facts.
The removal of bendy buses from London’s streets was not solely driven by Johnson’s campaign promise. Safety concerns played a pivotal role in the decision to phase out these buses. Between December 2003 and March 2004, several fires occurred on bendy buses, raising alarm about their safety. As a result, a temporary removal from service allowed for safety modifications to be implemented.
Once Johnson assumed office, he expedited the removal process, initially planning to phase out all bendy buses by 2013 but ultimately moving up the timeline to 2011. His commitment to this endeavor was evident when he referred to the bendy buses as “writhing whales of the road (which) have swung their hefty rear ends round our corners for the final time.”
Following their retirement from London’s streets, the bendy buses found a new lease of life in Malta, where they served for some time. However, this second life came to an end in 2014 when the Maltese transport ministry banned the 81 bendy buses due to safety concerns, including fires and accidents.
Subsequently, many of London’s bendy buses met different fates. Some were relegated to storage, while others found themselves abandoned in yards. Their legacy lives on through the memories of Londoners who once relied on these distinctive vehicles to navigate the bustling streets of the British capital.
