London commuters unite to push a double decker bus after it broke down during rush hour

Transport for London introduces a new bus safety standard

The Routemaster is being discontinued (Thomas Riggs)

Commuter power came to the rescue of a broken down bus which was blocking a busy road in Finsbury Park.

Around a dozen people worked together to push the number 210 after the double decker sputtered to a halt on one of the main routes through north London.

“The bus was in the way and everyone clubbed together,” commuter Richard Blaiberg told the Standard.

“I guess people were desperate to get home. I think commuter rage moved that bus.”

The incident happened during rush hour traffic at 6.30pm just outside Finsbury Park bus station, causing a standstill with vehicles unable to pass the double decker.

Frustrated commuters took to Twitter, including Oliver Kassman who helped move the bus. “Was part of all different kind of people pushing a broken down #Londonbus out the way of traffic in #FinsburyPark. #metaphor #LondonIsOpen,” he tweeted.

Another eye witness commended the community spirit of north Londoners. Brian Douieb posted: “Members of public helping to move broken down bus causing obstruction at Finsbury Park.”

In August, a double decker bus alarmingly rolled into the middle of a London road, without a driver at the wheel. The moment was caught on camera by a cab driver. Luckily, no one was injured during the incident on the Marylebone Road.

Transport for London released a statement introducing a new bus safety standard. There will be an investigation into installing Intelligent Speed Assistance technology on all new vehicles to stop them going over the speed limit.

The latest Routemaster buses are to be discontinued as a cost-saving measure by London mayor Sadiq Khan. This decision was taken in order to pay for a four-year freeze on bus fares.

There are also plans to modernise buses to have one of the world’s largest zero-emission fleets with electric and hydrogen vehicles.