Lib Dems welcome halt to bendy buses on route 73 to protect public (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Lib Dems welcome halt to bendy buses on route 73 to protect public

March 25, 2004 12:00 AM

Islington Liberal Democrats have welcomed the decision by Transport for London to withdraw articulated bendy buses in London temporarily following several fires on buses in the past few weeks. Transport for London is planning to introduce bendy buses on the 73 route through Islington which runs from Victoria to Tottenham Swan. Roads used in Islington are Pentonville Road, Islington High Street, Upper Street, Essex Road, Newington Green Road and Newington Green. Liberal Democrats have backed the introduction of bendy buses in principle as a way of improving boarding times, cutting the length of time buses stop at bus stops so improving traffic flow, improving disabled access to transport and increasing passenger capacity. But Liberal Democrats have questioned the suitability of bendy buses along some routes with specific concerns in Islington about the junction of Upper Street/Essex Road and Newington Green. Liberal Democrats were due to attend a public display of the buses next week. Councillor Terry Stacy, Islington's Liberal Democrat GLA candidate, said: "Transport for London's decision to temporarily withdraw bendy buses from service in the interest of passenger safety is a sensible one. We need to be sure that the bendy buses planned for route 73 are completely safe and they shouldn't be allowed back on the roads before. "It is a shame that our local Labour GLA member backed the introduction of bendy buses on the 73 route without taking these long-standing concerns on board. "This halt in the bendy bus services is an ideal time for the bus stops in Islington that will be used by the buses on the 73 to be reassessed. We need to check if the stopping boxes on the road need to be increased in length so that when bendy buses start on the 73 Islington's traffic does not get blocked when they pick up passengers."