Cost of driving a diesel in London

I do apologise for bringing facts into your entrenched prejudice.

Where to start.

They take up more road space due to that silly second staircase. One is quite enough for the number of passengers they can carry on top.

They were designed to have a conductor - but the extra £60k odd this would cost per year per bus means it was soon dropped.

The windows don't open - they rely on AC to keep them cool (and heat). That breaks down as often as the buses themselves.

They are dreadfully unreliable. Drive down any route they're used on and you'll likely see one with its legs in the air.

They are stupidly expensive at about £350k each - even more so given they are now expected to have a short service life.

Just another vanity project by one who would have done better to consult experts.

It has now been agreed to retro-fit them with opening windows.

The original designer, Thomas Heatherwick, had wanted them from the start but was over-ruled.

Indeed, or at least take note of what the experts told them in the first place.

Chris

The windows are also rather small - giving a sort of hemmed in feeling not present in other buses. (I actually enjoy using buses out of rush hour - more pleasant way to get somewhere than the tube if not in a rush.)

Well quite. What many liked about the original Routemaster (and other old buses) was you could hop off wherever it was going slow enough. Not possible with doors. And having a cheery clippie. Long gone to save money.

Many car wing mirrors had 'dealings' with Kens bendy 'free' buses.