We all adored the traditional London bus, the one in movies since forever, with the conductor hanging out the open back and exotic squint-toothed Brits jumping off and on at will. Even Harry Potter had one, the ghostly Night Bus, though it had an extra deck added, and some clever tricks. For a while now, these gems have been all-but missing, relegated to two tourist routes in the city. But no longer: the Routemaster (to use the proper name) is back. But will we love it?
Well, that mainstay of middle-class opinion, The Guardian newspaper, sort of hates the mockup that's been unveiled, dismissing it as "a design cacophany". Too fussy, too flashy, trying just too damned hard, the paper says.
What do you think? Check out some mock-ups here. Would you feel a trip to London was complete without a ride in this thing? Or will you seek out the last few old-timer originals?
