Goodbye Bendy Buses: London Axes Its Iconic “Writhing Whales”
London’s streets haven’t seen the famous bendy buses since 2011. These long, articulated monsters once ruled the roads but became public villains before being kicked to the kerb. They’ve now been replaced by the classic red Routemasters, but the saga of the bendy buses is a tale of safety scares, political promises, and a surprising second act abroad.
Boris Johnson’s Promise: The End for Bendy Buses
Before Boris Johnson became UK Prime Minister, he was London’s mayor. In his 2008 campaign, he vowed to scrap the bendy buses for good. Johnson claimed they were a danger to cyclists, stirring fears that these rolling giants caused cyclist deaths. Although those accusations didn’t hold up to scrutiny, safety concerns still loomed large.
Fire Fears and Faster Removal
Between late 2003 and early 2004, bendy buses caught fire multiple times, sparking panic. This led to an emergency withdrawal for safety tweaks. When Johnson took office, he sped up their exit. What was set for 2013 happened two years early in 2011. Johnson famously dubbed them “writhing whales” throwing their heavy rears dangerously round corners— the last goodbye for these urban giants.
From London Roads to Maltese Shores—and Out Again
Retired bendy buses didn’t vanish completely. Many were shipped to Malta for a second stint. But trouble followed them—fires and crashes led Maltese authorities to ban all 81 buses by 2014. Back in London, some buses were scrapped, others offloaded in junkyards. Still, those bendy buses remain etched in memories as a bold but controversial chapter in London’s transport history.
