New Routemaster may have glass roof

A competition held by Mayor Boris Johnson to find a replacement for the Routemaster bus has yielded a number of interesting designs including one from Foster & Partners, which features a glass roof curving around the top deck.

A ramp would allow disabled passengers and people with prams to get aboard, and a conductor would communicate with the driver via a wireless headset.

The mayor has pledged to get rid of the 18 metre-long bendy buses, which have proved unpopular because they are deemed ill-suited to London streets and are involved in a disproportionately high number of collisions with cyclists than double-deckers.
The first of London’s 393 bendy buses will be retired next year.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “The dimensions of the original Routemaster meant it worked well on London’s relatively narrow streets, so whatever the appearance of its replacement, it needs to be practical.”

Related article:
World’s greenest bus

What is the ETA?

The ETA is a not-for-profit ethical organisation providing motorists and cyclists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.