InsideTransit

The Mayor of London has opened a competition to create a new 21st century Routemaster bus. If you are new to the Routemaster bus, I've embedded some images below from a special trip I took to Acton Depot when I visited London a few years ago.

The winner will win $25,000 and their design will be used to create the new Routemaster bus! There's also a competition for parts of the bus.

The Routemaster is the iconic double-decker bus that was in service for many years in London. Here are some of the rules of the competition:

• A double-decker bus with one or more internal staircases
• An open-access platform at the rear near-side corner (similar to that on the old Routemaster)
• It must have at least one other entrance or exit with double doors
• Allow for a second crew member
• It must be fully accessible and comply with the Vehicle Specification Guidelines
• It must be red!

Check out the contest site for all of the details for entering. If you do this, please make sure the bus has air conditioning!

Most adults have the phrase, "mind the gap" or "watch the gap". I had no idea that in Tokyo they allow cats to ride the subways. Perhaps that's why they are always so jam-packed! Here's a sign that basically says, "Watch your cat's tail in the doors!"

Photo from audrey_sel

Here are the idiots of the day. These videos are from the NYC subway system in what appears to be the number 7 line in queens. These idiots are jumping from one platform to the other over the express track in the middle. The track they are jumping over has a 3rd rail filled with electricity.

You know that if these idiots were injured, they would sue the MTA. Pretty sad.

It goes without saying but PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS - it's stupid, dumb and you can get dead.

EnglishRussia, one of the most hilarious blogs out there, posted images a couple of years ago from the subways of the big Russian cities. I sure hope to get to see these subways myself one day. It seems people like to sleep on the subways in Russia and the trains are packed. On a serious note, apparently the stations are beautiful with art and sculptures.

Here's one of the photos, this time it's a man sitting on a train with a bazooka gun. Could you picture this in any large city in Europe or in the U.S.? Notice the woman next to him just reading her magazine like this is normal behavior.

There's been much talk about the new NYC waterfalls project which basically seems like an attempt to "beautify" the city. Even with their supposed beauty, there's always talk about the real NYC waterfalls. Watch the videos below, listen to the smooth sounds, watch the train enter and then tell me whether you think this is beautiful!

The Telegraph newspaper in the U.K. is out with ten great train trips around the world. Most are for the scenery, view and the experience. They include:

• Switzerland: The Bernina Express
• Canada: Rocky Mountaineer Vacations
• South Africa: Rovos Rail
• Russia: Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express - 6,000 miles!!
• South East Asia: Eastern & Oriental Express
• North America: California Zephyr
• Great Britain: Northern Belle
• Europe: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
• Japan: The Shinkansen

My trips on the IC from Berlin to Amsterdam was great and the trip from Munich to Venice passed through some great mountains and valleys. Both trips were nearly 9 hours.