Tuesday, August 03, 2004

Save the Routemaster

The London Routemaster open-backed double-deck bus is an icon. But it is being phased out due to EU regulations. For some reason, London Mayor Ken Livingstone is removing Routemasters even faster than required -- the regulations take full effect in about 7+ years, the Routemasters will be off the streets under the current schedule by the end of 2005.

The saddest facts: (1) the Routemaster gets better mileage than its replacements (all run on diesel fuel); (2) Routemasters have fewer handicapped passenger injuries than "fully accessible" buses.

The EU, where history is just a thing of the past.

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