A RECENT “design-a-bus” competition run by Transport for London (TfL), the body responsible for that city’s public transport system, has captured the imagination of the public – and the odd motoring journalist.
The contest, which attracted 700 entries, was jointly won by luxury carmaker Aston Martin in partnership with product design company Foster + Partners, and bus designers Capoco.
An Aston Martin-badged bus might well be one way of prising motorists out of their cars, but is hopping onto the 007 to Shoreditch ever going to be a real option for Londoners? Could Dublin’s hard-pressed commuters enjoy an upmarket omnibus of unsurpassed opulence in the not-so-distant future?
Speaking to The Irish Times, TfL spokesperson Judith Adams confirmed that although Aston Martin’s involvement in the project generated a lot of interest, passengers were unlikely to be travelling on “their own chauffeur-driven Aston Martin for under a pound” any time soon.
The good news, however, is that the authority expects to issue a notice to the Official Journal of the European Union within the next week or so, inviting expressions of interest from bus manufacturers. Elements of the winning design should find their way into the vehicles of whoever wins the tender. It is expected that the contract will be awarded by the end of this year, with a prototype of the new vehicle appearing in 2011 before going on into full production in 2012.
So, while ideas such as roof-based solar panels might, or might not, see the light of day, London’s new take on the old Routemaster will definitely incorporate some green technology. As things stand, the capital’s bus fleet will boast 56 hybrid buses by next month, and this trend is expected to increase.
Even without the cachet of a prestigious carmaker being involved, TfL states that bus passenger numbers have increased by 53 per cent since 2000, with prioritised traffic lights, more dedicated bus lanes and improved journey times making the daily commute a much better experience.
If London’s bus of the future ends up looking anything like the winning design, it can only make leaving the car at home an even more attractive option.