Two buses replace bendy bus route

Number 38 is the third bendy bus route to be scrapped this year

The number 38 bendy bus has been withdrawn from London's roads, the third such bus to be replaced.

The Victoria to Clapton Pond route will be serviced by two double deck buses - between Victoria and Hackney Central and from Hackney to Clapton Pond.

The phasing out of bendy buses, one of Mayor Boris Johnson's election pledges, began in July with the 507 route followed by the 521 route in September.

Transport for London said it has increased the frequency of the service.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London's Transport Advisor, said: "Londoners voted to boot out bendy buses and their numbers in the Capital are ever decreasing.

"We're pleased to be introducing double deck buses on this route and Transport for London will ensure that they run at a frequency that caters for the number of passengers using them."

Double bus fare

Two other routes - 18 and 149 - will stop running by the end of 2010. The seven remaining routes will go by the end of 2011.

Valerie Shawcross, Labour party's transport spokesperson on the London Assembly, said the cost of scrapping the three bendy bus routes will be an estimated £3.3m a year.

She said: "Passengers will be simply now paying more for a worse service, thanks the policies of a Mayor who does not use the bus. How is this value for Londoners' money?

"The bendy bus may not be popular with everyone but it is a cost-effective and cleaner way to move large numbers of people around the city."