It's the end of an era in London’s public transport - the Boris Buses are being retired after just 12 years on the streets. These buses were introduced by Boris Johnson when he was Mayor of London, meant to replace the beloved Routemaster. They cost the city a whopping £350 million and were designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the same guy who designed the 2012 Olympic cauldron!
Despite the grand plans, things didn’t go quite as smoothly as hoped. Passengers quickly started complaining about the unbearable heat inside the buses during summer, so they had to be retrofitted with opening windows.
Now, with Sadiq Khan re-elected as Mayor, he’s decided it’s time for a change. He’s aiming to have all 8,600 of London’s buses powered by batteries or hydrogen by 2030.
For a bit of history, the original Routemaster buses were introduced in 1954 and served London until 2005, although you can still catch one on a heritage route in Central London. And if you’re thinking of buying one of these classic buses for yourself, be prepared to spend up to £80,000!
#london #routemaster #sadiqkhan #borisjohnson
23 май 2024
