LONDON BUSES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17126, 5 December 1929, Page 8

LONDON BUSES

The visitor to London often is better able to appreciate some of the features of this great city, this swarming human ants’ nest, than the permanent resident. He, for instance, never fails to express' admiration of two things which the yearin, year-out Londoner takes for granted, like salt in his stew. These are tho Metropolitan police and the buses.- It is of the latter that one now wants to write. Tho bus services are mainly in the control of the London General Omni ■ bus Co., a gigantic organisation, consist ing of dozens • of amalgamated companies, which itself combines with the underground railway companies and various municipal tramway undertakings in co-ordinated transport of London's millions. There are a few bus services outside the combine, hut for till practical purposes London bus transport means the L.G.O.C. Their all-red double decked buses are famous the world over, but now, by the way, the company is giving up a change of color by painting tho upper half of their vehicles cream. Tho L.G.O.C. is a wonderful example of tho efficiency of private enterprise in transport. Apart from the fact that, fares are cheap, the services provided approach the miraculous in frequency, regularity (this in spite of the city s terrible traffic conditions), and early and lato workings. The company employs 30,C00 drivers and conductors, and 3000 men in repair depots. It has 47 garages, where another £OOO cleaners are employed. On an average, each bus carries more than 500,000 passengers a year, and travels 38,000 miles a year—and there are 4500 buses. An average of 60 tons of litter is picked up from the floors of these vehicles every week. No mention of the buses can complete without a word of praise for’drivers and conductors—the former the finest and most efficient handlers of motor vehicles in the world; the latter the politest and most obliging servants of the public. They are the product of rigorous selection'. In the last two years 61,000 men have applied for positions as drivers. Fewer than 4000 have been chosen for examination and tests. Only 1000 have been, finally passed and accepted. That, is why one steps into a London bus with perfect confidence in the men in charge of it; why bus accidents are,so few. in number as to be hardly worth mentioning. _