When I was a child we used to visit London frequently and one of the most exciting things for me about the holiday was the possibility of riding on the second floor of a double-decker bus.
Aah, what a thrill it was to travel around an unknown city with a bird's-eye view. Having never done it before, it made me feel rather big to be above all the people down below. I remember how the bus used to rock back and forth over potholes and how I was sure that we would hit the tree branches overhead. Hence, because of these thrilling and exciting experiences, I've decided to learn more about these phenomenal pieces of engineering and share my knowledge with you.
A symbolic image of the country, the red double-decker buses used in London are between 9.5 and 10.9m in length. They typically seat from 60 to 80 passengers which means that when fully used they provide a very "green" method of transportation, as well as a very reliable and easy one (unlike the tube).
A double-decker is a rigid single-decker bus but with an extra upper deck, with the decks joined by a staircase — usually at the front in modern vehicles, but in the rear for historical designs. Larger double-deckers can feature both a front and rear staircase. The greatest bus in London's history is the iconic Routemaster. It is a model of double-decker bus that was introduced in 1954 and produced until 1968. It did long service in London from 1956 until 2005 when it was replaced because it was not wheelchair accessible. These buses had their engines at the front with an open platform at the back which it made it very easy to jump on and off even between stops.
A conductor, as well as the driver, was on board which gave passengers greater security. You still see double-decker buses in use throughout London today, but, alas, I do not use them.
Luke
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