Boris announces beginning of the end for bendy buses

London Mayor Boris Johnson today signalled the beginning of the end for ultra-long bendy buses in the capital.

A total of 83 bendy buses will be removed from three routes next autumn and replaced with conventional single-decker and double-decker vehicles.

The routes are the 38, 507 and 521 and the change will be made when contracts with the private company operators expire next autumn.

To cope with the decreased capacity in the "conventional" vehicles, frequencies will be increased on the three routes.

Mr Johnson said today: "During the (mayoral) election, I promised that I would phase out bendy buses, and today I can announce their demise has begun, which means the first bendy buses being removed from our streets next summer.

"Many Londoners, particularly cyclists, see the awkward elongated bulk of the bendy bus as completely unsuitable for the city's streets, and during the election this became a huge issue.

"I am making sure the buses are removed in the most cost-effective way, and today's new contract announcement marks the beginning of the end for the bendy bus in London."