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Bendy bus death sparks petition
Evening Standard17.10.07
THE family and friends of a man who was dragged to his death by a bendy bus are backing a campaign to have the vehicles banned.
Relatives of Lee Beckwith, 21, who fell under the wheels of the No25 bus, have signed a petition on the Downing Street website calling for bendy buses to be outlawed.
George Georgiou, who started the petition, said: "These buses were not designed for our road network and cause more congestion than the double-deckers that they are replacing." Almost 100 people have signed the petition after the tiler, who lived with his pregnant girlfriend in Brentwood, Essex, was killed last Tuesday when the bus dragged him along the road for a mile.
Mr Beckwith's grandmother Beryl, 74, said the family wanted bendy buses banned. "I think they should be taken off the road if they are not safe - maybe you can't see everything you need to in the mirrors."
The bus driver involved has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and released on bail until January. Transport for London claims the buses are no more dangerous than double-deckers.
Reader views (10)
Save the Bendy Buses!! Do not get rid of them
- Ronan, Cheltenham
In reply to Tony, London. I am a driver who has gotten out of his car and I use the buses very frequently. I never use a bendy bus because they take longer journey times than the alternative double decker bus which travels the same route. The biggest problem with the double decker is that it gets stuck in traffic jams which have been caused by bendy-buses.
- Dennis Morgan, London
Boris has got this so right!
- Richard, London, UK
Ban them.
- Ross Biagini, Ealing, London, UK
The bendy buses are quicker to get on and off from, and are used safely in countless cities world-wide.
- Bernard Freudenthal, London, UK
While I agree that these buses may increase the capacity of our transport system I think they are a bad idea. Effectively it is the same as having 2 buses following close behind each other. Why not just run 2 buses instead in the idea that the drives will be better placed to drive the vehicle safely. I cant say I am suprised there have been accidents. Indeed these buses are notorious for blocking junctions when the driver goes through an amber light blocking the junction and massively increasing congestion.
- Rob, London, UK
I think the bendy buses are being used on too narrow roads and if not banned, then they should only be used on wide roads. I see the practicality of using them in Oxford street because there are more doors for them to enter but like the old Routemasters, it's easy to faredodge on them. So I think Boris Johnson's plans to replace bendy buses with Routemasters regarding faredodging escapes logic as far as I can see. Better to replace them with the double deckers used on other routes. That way, everyone has to pay or touch their oysters etc before passing the driver.
As for very busy streets such as Oxford Street, it may be practical to have more than one door to enter and exit the bus but I suspect the bendy bus is at least partly the cause of very bad congestion in Oxford Street during the rush hour.
- Clare, London, UK
I absolutely HATE these buses. They are almost always way too full. People are uncomfortably packed in like sardines. They are the worst thing that has happened to bus travel in London… full stop! Bring back more double deckers please!
- Brent Mctavish, London
The bendy buses are a total menace and a significant factor in congestion. How many times do you see one of these awful contraptions blocking a crossroads because the driver had moved on and "forgotten" the 18 metres behind him, stopping all in his wake. How man times do we have to stand at tight junctions and watch, eyes half closed? It is time to face facts, get rid of them.
- Kevin, London
I like them. They are quick to enter and leave and efficient at moving large numbers of people. Perhaps drivers should get out of their cars and use them.
- Tony, London
