London's Greatest Symbols Makes A Comeback

Long decline of London's bus service -- recognized by the red double-deck bus -- ended about 10 years ago and has been replaced by rapid growth.

1 minute read

December 9, 2003, 1:00 PM PST

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"Anybody seen in a bus over the age of 30 has been a failure in life. These words are certainly rather discouraging for people such as myself, who will not see 30 again and who often travel by bus. the bus is the most delightful way to get about London. This long decline ended about 10 years ago and has been replaced by rapid growth. The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, is perfectly within his rights to spend heavily on buses. The more difficult challenge is to get the middle classes to use buses because doing so has actually become more pleasant and convenient than going by car. I realise substantial numbers of people will never consider themselves truly free unless they are sitting at the wheel of a motor car, even if that car is stuck in a traffic jam. But even these diehard motorists, many of whom also feel a snobbish disdain for the humble bus, ought to understand that their chances of an enjoyable drive are much higher, in any densely populated area, if substantial numbers of us choose instead to defy the duchess and catch the bus."

Thanks to Richard Layman

Saturday, December 6, 2003 in The Daily Telegraph

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