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this bus isn't good enough
The lightweight Enviro 300 single-decker bus built by Alexander Dennis of Falkirk isn't a good enough experience to get people out of their cars. It's becoming commonplace where buses are run by First and Stagecoach-Bluebird; operating even quite long routes such as Aberdeen to Inverurie. Lightweight it certainly feels: a combination of biscuit-tin metal and huge expanses of glass. This leads to its primary drawbacks: it's always cold: no double-glazing or internal panelling behind the thin metal mean the passenger is barely separated from the outside and the walls are just too cold. The engine is whiney and loud, presumably because it's isolated only by lightweight materials. Finally, they've packed too many seats in: it would be harder to find a bus with less leg-room, and the seats aren't well upholstered. Many motorists considering a switch for the daily grind would be reeling at these hardships on a Monday morning.
02.05.08 @ 11:28 AM CST [link]