• CHRISTOPHER Mason (Pedestrians could give way to buses, November 29) has a particular resonance for me – but before going on, a word about enthusiasm for electric buses.

On present thinking they are the buzz-term for many of us but if pedestrians think silent cyclists on pavements and/or road-crossings are a menace, this could be as nothing when silent electric buses are on the road.

This is especially so given that any noise-making equipment that could be installed will be dismissed by an incoming Johnsonian government as yet more needless health and safety nonsense.

As to behaviour on buses, perhaps Transport for London could get some of their senior staff out of their comfortable offices and actually to travel on buses out on the roads. They may discover what all too often actually happens when out on the road.

A minority (note my a minority) just will not lower the vehicle to make life a bit for us elderly, especially when we are using shopping trolleys, push-chairs, etc.

Even more troubling is the chronic inability of some bus drivers to know where the kerbs are relative to pavements. Thus when at a bus stop, the bus may stop some yards from the kerb.

There are occasions when vans and/or cars are parked too close to a stop to allow a bus coming as close to the kerb as they should be; but such occasions are relatively few.

Far more frequent are the times when buses are not brought into the kerb simply because the driver has not brought the bus into the kerb.

As a consequence, the foot-traffic have to get down to the road surface via a big drop, which is followed by a step up of several inches to mount the kerb to reach the pavement.

Nor can there really be any good reason for sudden braking when a recognised bus stop is approached; or a sudden jerk when such stops are being left. Especially when passengers are not seated.

We should be courteous towards drivers doing what can clearly be a difficult job. But this can surely never be one-sided.

H BOURNE
Address supplied