Stamped out – but No. 21 lives on in the imagination
When I met him recently, fellow cyclist London Mayor Boris Johnson and I very much saw eye-to-eye on buses – particularly on the need to get rid of the bendy nightmares and the potential for rehumanising this city’s overground public transport by reanimating the spirit of the much-loved, much-missed Routemaster. Now he has joined Transport for London to launch a competition to design a brand new bus for London, inspired by the Routemaster.
At a launch event in the London Transport Museum he and Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy invited would-be designers to submit their ideas. Budding designers are encouraged to submit their designs in one of two categories:
- Design a bus for London. Entrants will have the option of submitting a design for a specific part of the bus or a ‘whole bus’ design. In this category, designs will have to be quite detailed and must comply with guideline specifications as provided by TfL. A number of drawings will be required, as well as written documents providing reasoning and more detailed descriptions of the design and features of the bus.
- imagine a bus for London. In this category, entrants can submit single design concepts for particular features of the bus, or a sketch of the overall look. The judges will be looking for the best ideas rather than detailed technical designs. Entries will be judged in four age categories: under 11, 11-15, 16-18, and over 18.
The new bus “should have a stylish, imaginative design which will have a big impact on the streets of London. Key features designers must consider include an open platform to allow passengers to board and alight quickly and easily; good use of interior space; accessibility; and green technology.” Further details and full terms and conditions at www.tfl.gov.uk/anewbusforlondon.
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