London bus stops to get Olympic inspired art
Bus stops in London are getting an art make over ahead of the Olympic Games this summer. As part of a special art commission, selected bus shelters will be decorated with changing displays on the roof, with 30 bus shelters in 20 London boroughs already boasting these innovative displays.
Mark Titchner is the artist behind the latest bus shelter art project in which motivational slogans and phrases are being flashed up on the top of bus stops. Commands including, “If you don’t like your life, you can change it” and “Act or be Acted Upon” are being displayed on the roofs of bus shelters so those travelling on the top deck of London buses can look down and read the phrase.
There are 31 different motivational statements in total which are being changed on a daily basis on the bus shelter displays so commuters will see a different one every day they pass the same stop. The system is controlled by curators via the internet who change the displays at different times of the day and on different routes. The idea is to give passengers a thought to take with them on their journey, the Turner Prize nominated artist revealed.
While a number of professional artists are involved in the creation of the art for the London bus shelters, the public can also get involved via Bus Tops, where the people can submit their ideas and suggestions for use as art displays on the shelters.
The project is part of a wider programme of 12 public art commissions rolled out throughout the rest of England, also Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
New London Routemaster bus showcased in the city
A prototype of the new Routemaster style double-decker bus received a preview in Golders Green last week ahead of the bus’s official debut scheduled for next month.
Around 500 people took to the streets in Golders Green in North London to see the “Boris bus” as it’s been nicknamed, up close for the very first time. An eclectic mix of people including students, tourists and local councillors turned out to give the new double-decker the once over and deliver their opinion on the re-mastered Routemaster last Friday.
The American tourists who’d arrived to view the new addition to London’s transport network were given a talk on the history of the original Routemaster before boarding the new version for a guided tour.
A technical consultant from Transport for London was also on hand to offer information on the new eco-friendly bus and to answer any questions from the people who’d arrived to look over the double-decker.
The new Routemaster features two staircases to allow easy access up and down from the top deck, as well as the original open back platform which was one of the distinguishing features of the original Routemaster.
The first new double-decker London bus is due to appear on London streets on February 20th and will operate on the number 38 bus route between Victoria and Hackney.
Iconic US coach hire firm Greyhound is launched in London
There’s a new coach hire company in town with a distinct American feel. The Greyhound coach is an icon of US travel with a long and celebrated history in the transport industry. Now the stateside coach giant is trying its luck in the UK by launching a service from London. But Greyhound has stayed true its roots and hasn’t succumbed to a British makeover, in fact, quite the opposite.
The fleet of Greyhound luxury coaches have all been named after American characters from the world of music and film. There’s the Peggy Sue, Barbara Ann, Sweet Caroline and Billy Jean to choose from for your all-American coach hire experience. Services are initially running between London to Southampton and Portsmouth.
Early signs for Greyhound’s new UK venture look promising after advertising campaigns generated a huge amount of interest which resulted in 6,000 bookings being taken before the service had even launched. Another reason for the high level of interest may be the ultra low prices and special offers with online prices starting from as little as £1 with a 50p booking fee. There’s also a buy 2 get 1 free offer in operation which provides great value for money for customers.
Greyhound coaches are aiming to offer a relaxing and comfortable travel experience with a view to attracting rail customers over to coach hire. Bosses at Greyhound said that their market research showed that 75% of rail users would switch to coach travel if they were offered an “executive travel experience at a good price.”