Coventry Buses - past and present

Annewiggy, from the late 60`s until about 5 years ago. Looking at the dates, though, it couldn`t have been the same man as I`m pretty sure he would have been driving through the 50`s and 60`s.

No Greg, he would have left by then. Coincidence though!

Are you thinking about MIRA, Kaga - on the A5 the other side of Nuneaton.

Looking through old posts I can't believe how many times I have repeated myself. I apologise.

Annewiggy, No idea, I believe this testing track has been on the forum before, with pictures?

Post copied from topic Broadgate on 15th Dec 2018 6:24 pm

Prof. No. 22, was that the Purcell Road bus? (just testing my memory)

Yes, quite correct Dreamtime Route 22 details

Thank you MR, after 44 years being an alien I am pleased I have not lost the plot yet. Avaguden.

A few more memories for Dreamtime

"Passengers entering or leaving the bus while in motion" Now there`s a laugh! I seem to remember jumping off at speed was an artform, you were supposed to grasp the handle with your right hand and just drop into space sideways and facing forward land on your feet running; it was some form of virility symbol, pity they got rid of the buses with the open platform. Mind you some cyclists did get a bit of a surprise. I also remember haring down the road after it has left just as you arrived, hoping to catch it at the next stop, sometimes if there was a long queue you managed it, but more often you just missed it again, don`t know if anybody managed to do the full journey to town on foot.

Hi all Do any of you remember the notice that said, from memory: "Any passenger leaving this omnibus without tendering the correct fare & with intent to avoid payment is liable to prosecution"?

Thanks MR, always something to read on the buses, even the small print! Are they still like that today, and do they still allow standing in the aisle, carrying a brolly and dripping wet? A fate worse than death in high heels.

Yes, but you're only quoting half the sign, 'do so at their own risk' - we all understood but still jumped on as it was leaving, many times we leaped on the Longford bus knowing there was a Bedworth bus in front, then leaped off and ran to the Bedworth bus before it pulled away during the journey. But the windows were big solid things except the top six-inches, these slid back or forth to the centre, handy for throwing wasps out when they upset people. But people would throw butts out, ignoring who was behind and about to pass. Worst of all was the smoke, the old buses had little ventilation, and were not cleaned enough.

Yes Kaga, and condensation streaming down the windows in winter, and very healthy up the winding stairs in the 'smoker's lounge'! I never saw the used ticket bin full either, there were more round the bus stops, together with all the ciggy ends, than anywhere. We were like robots in those days, performing the same act going home every evening, and more often than not with the same crowds scrambling on the bus. 'Oh to be in England now that winter is here'. Ding, ding, off we go. The conductor would shout something which I could never understand - ah, that was it - 'hold on tight' (for the benefit of those standing). Oh what a merry we lot were.