Some of London’s bus routes are being colour coded to allow passengers to more easily plan their journeys.
Under a trial currently underway in Barkingside, 60 bus have been given “their own splash of colour” signalling which route they’re operating on, matching the colours shown for each route on local bus maps.
In addition, adverts are being removed from the sides of buses and replaced with a list of key destinations and interchanges.
City Hall says the “Tube-style” approach to bus travel will “simplify journeys for passengers”. A further trial is planned for the summer in Hayes, in west London.
Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “It’s no secret that London’s bus service has always been close to my heart, and I’m working hard to make it as accessible, affordable and easy to use as possible for all.
“By bringing these new distinctive route colours to areas of the network, we’re making it as easy to navigate areas of London by bus as it is by Tube.”
Leon Daniels, Transport for London’s Managing Director of Surface Transport, added: “We’ve redesigned the look of Barkingside’s buses and the information we provide to customers.
“We believe this will make bus travel simpler and will encourage more Londoners and visitors to use buses – the Capital’s most expansive and accessible public transport service, which also offers excellent value for money.”
Mr Khan has previously called on TfL to maximise advertising and commercial revenue to help fund his four year fares freeze.
Asked about any potential reduction in revenue caused by replacing adverts with the new destination signage, his office insisted TfL will work closely with its ad agency and bus operators to assess the impact during the trial.
