The Heatherwick-designed New Routemaster

• WHEN new buses were introduced on the No 19 route last year I was really disappointed that we didn’t get the new Thomas Heatherwick-designed Routemasters, (Did designer ever hop on a bus? September 6).

I like the external design very much, and often wait for a No 38 when I’m in town just to have the pleasure of riding on one.

I like the way they glide around quietly, and the three doors make for a much quicker turn-around at bus stops.

Internally the biggest plus is the lighting. I don’t know why bus designers don’t seem to realise that fluorescent strip lights give passengers headaches and make everyone look sickly.

And being lurched and jerked around on the old-design “cattle trucks”, as we called them when they first appeared, can be challenging and dangerous, especially for older people or those carrying shopping or children. Occasional inspectors would do much to deter fare-evaders.

D NAIR
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