please empty your brain below
Of course your posts are always interesting, but I found this one especially so, despite having no particular interest in busses or Islington. So thank you.

Ian | 25.01.21 - 8:34 a.m. | #

I loved my trip on the 812 a few years ago, when it was still the yellow minibus. It had the same feel as a provincial market day bus route, namely one of all the regulars knowing each other and the driver, whilst making you feel like the intruding stranger that you are. Happy times!

Al | 25.01.21 - 8:37 a.m. | #

During this pandemic I have become a volunteer delivering prescriptions to the housebound or those sheltering. Despite living in my area of inner London for nearly 30 years it has been a real eye opener as to how many care homes and sheltered accommodation there is in the area that I had never noticed before and also how many elderly people there are. While in percentage terms inner London has a lower proportion of elderly people than other parts of the country there are still a huge number of them in absolute terms, most living alone.

kerspatula | 25.01.21 - 8:39 a.m. | #

Fascinating post. Sounds like this route could be a real lifeline. It must cost quite a bit to operate, with negligeable farebox revenue, and that dreadful stuff, cash money, to care for and account for.
When I was young and reading timetables, "weekdays" always meant Monday to Saturday. I think usage may have changed recently.

Malcolm of Kent | 25.01.21 - 9:37 a.m. | #

I'm so glad you've covered this route! It was actually conceived by university researchers and originally called 'PlusBus' - with a sister route in Cumbria.

Its creation is explained in the book Accessibility and the Bus System: From Concepts to Practice edited by Nick Tyler (who is now the director of the UCL Centre for Transport Studies).

northken | 25.01.21 - 9:40 a.m. | #

Or I should say conceived by university researchers alongside local people who had their say in where it goes, as DiamondGeezer mentioned

northken | 25.01.21 - 9:44 a.m. | #

Where is Percy Circus?

dg writes: see map.

Cornish Monkey | 25.01.21 - 10:16 a.m. | #

This seems a socially useful route, so puzzled why this isn't part of the TfL network

Mikey C | 25.01.21 - 11:19 a.m. | #

Judging from the map I wonder why it isn't run in two full circles like the R5 and R10 do.

Patrickov | 25.01.21 - 11:29 a.m. | #

I'm not sure I knew that "Islington is the most densely-populated borough in the UK.." before today.

Frank F | 25.01.21 - 2:55 p.m. | #

Islington also has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the UK.

snurk | 25.01.21 - 7:19 p.m. | #

Rosebery, not Roseberry. Only know that because my Dad used to work at New River Head.

dg writes: updated, thanks.

James Webber | 25.01.21 - 7:40 p.m. | #

My first seven years in Brewer’s Buildings , Rawstorne St, grandparents in Lubetkin’s newly built. Spa Green Estate. Astonishing as it may seem to today’s parents my chums and I had the freedom to roam the streets unaccompanied by adults. Very happy days.

Keith | 25.01.21 - 11:47 p.m. | #

I recognised the Percy Circus photo straight away. That was my favorite place to eat my lunch when I worked in Kings Cross (the actual station) in the mid 60s. 50 years later I started a new job in the area, and returned to lunch in Percy Circus, which hadn't changed much.
If lockdown ever ends, I might get back there again. WFH can mean no walk to a little park at lunchtime.

amber | 27.01.21 - 11:31 a.m. | #

Just saw an 812 drive southbound on Green Lanes next to Clissold Park at 2237 and felt compelled to come back and leave a comment. Sorry.

Gunnersaurus | 28.01.21 - 10:39 p.m. | #

Route 812 will come to an end on Friday 26 August 2022 (due to sustained commercial losses).

diamond geezer | Homepage | 16.08.22 - 7:18 p.m. | #











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