The original Routemaster was (still is?) the ideal bus for London. Simple, lightweight, easy to service, comfortable, good to drive, liked by everyone. When an example of industrial design is simply so right, don't try to reinvent the wheel. John
(snip) I believe the original Routemaster was the only bus to ever use the open platform, (snip)
Jeremy, didn't buses that were prior to the RM use the open platform -- buses like the AEC RT, contemporary Leylands, Guy Arabs, and at least some LoDekkas? Not that it really matters -- the platform is certainly iconic of the RouteMasters -- but it was in use back to the horse-drawn omni-bus charabancs of the late 1800's.