The bus industry has always suffered from negative stereotypes...
They’re heroes in some people’s eyes. They’re venerated, even worshipped. So, while they may think their stunts are a bit of a laugh, the message their lad culture sends to their more impressionable viewers is destructive and irresponsible. Subliminally, it’s hugely damaging to public transport. It reinforces out-of-date stereotypes.
We’re talking Clarkson and his Top Gear co-presenters, of course. And not just because 1,800 plus people complained about his insensitive gag about heavy drivers murdering prostitutes, following the conviction in Ipswich of one such driver. This in itself resulted in calls for the BBC to drop Clarkson.
Last week, Top Gear sent two bendies, a midibus, minibus and a double deck to destruction, in what might be described as a stock-car race. Using a circuit somewhere in Kent, we saw the five being put through their paces as never before. One was clearly visible in Stagecoach livery (albeit in the driving training vehicle version) and as it toppled I wonder what Brian Souter might’ve thought.
Said the bendy bus driving presenter (not Clarkson), “Thinking about it, we have missed one thing out on this test—cyclists. Perhaps pedalled by bus drivers”.
He continued, “First to suffer in the I’m-a-bus-driver-and-I-never-use-my-bl**dy-mirrors manoeuvre” was the Metrorider.
The winner was a 1993 Dennis Dart midi. “The best bus for London and any other city is the good old single deck—cos it’s fast”.
Mind you, Top Gear's stunts do make for interesting stills.
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Stereotypical
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8 comments:
The presenter of that particular part of the show was Richard Hammond, who also drove one of the bendies.
Although the double decker did eventually tumble there were a number of shots where the angle of lean demonstrated how important the 28 degree (or whatever it is nowadays)requirement is.
42 isn't it?
Having Boris on this week didn't really help either.
He didn't even know what he was talking about - saying the first bendies off would be announced on Friday and would be off by 2010. It's 2009 you idiot - you're meant to know!!!
Still, seeing as everything he known is from the point of a cyclist, perhaps he doesn't know.
I drive a bus and have done for 12 years now, but I think Top Gear is one of the best programmes on TV.
for goodness sake get a sense of humour - it's just a laugh!
I was more distraught to see one of the very rare SYPTE Leyland DAB artics involved!
Dr David Quarmby may belive that buses are no longer a cottage industry, but those involved in the making of Top Gear clearly think otherwise.
I think those involved in the bus industry need to be able to laugh at themselves - let's face it, they've had plenty of practiec over the years!
Top Gear is also very popular indeed, and the fact they continue to smash things up would imply it's precisely this that pulls in the audiance.
On this particular episode, they simply put into practice what many people would like to see.
And it's actually Richard Hammond who's the main 'bus hater' of the Top Gear Trio; Clarkson prefers to vent his anger at caravans and John Prescott for giving the go-ahead to the M4 bus lane.
There've been plenty of occasions over the years when caravans have been demolished, moreso than buses, which become the better relation by comparison!
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