Up until a few months ago - I routinely aimed for the very front of the upper deck of the bus if the seats were ever available. The view is fantastically unique from a public transport perspective - and I would even go so far as to say that (in London at least) the view is more interesting and fulfilling than can be had from a window seat of an aeroplane.
As the bus pulled into a busy stop on Wembley High Road - I saw, through the window, an unusual motorbike parked up outside Wembley Central station. Even the helmet perched on the seat had that distictive retro feel about it.
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Nowadays I make my way to the back of the upper deck fo the bus. It’s a combination of a couple of things. The newer Route 79 buses have less leg room on the very front seat on the top deck - so it’ s just plain uncomfortable for anybody over 1.5 metres tall. Also - the micro-climate on the bus is highly variable. The front of the top deck is the most exposed to the sunlight - so on a sunny day it just gets very hot sitting in the front - and there is something really unique about the way the air vortex at the very back of the upper deck results in a seating position that is extremely cool and breezy. On a hot day - like the ones we’ve had recently - this is most relaxing.
Anyway - earlier this evening on the way home - I had no choice but to take the front seat on the upper deck. As the bus weaves its way through the traffic calming obstacles in Ealing Road in Wembley - it is clear that the traffic in the opposite direction is already so calmed it’s not moving. This makes it all the more possible to exchange proper glances with people on the upper decks of buses travelling in the opposite direction.
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(Traffic at a standstill on the Southbound)
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The view of the Ealing Road is quite nice.. lot of shops have spilled their wares on the footpath.. I think this feature is common at places where there are significant Asian population (& shopkeepers)!
Posted by: Chakra on May 21, 2004 10:47 AMHi Chakra: yes - I am guessing that you would be pretty pleased with Ealing Road - the shops do indeed spill over greatly onto the footpath - and this is entirely because 99% of the shopkeepers are Asian (Indian/Sri-Lankan). It is always a joy to shop or just walk up and down Ealing Road - and Southall is even better!
Posted by: Jag on May 21, 2004 09:39 PM