Riding the if teen
Page 19
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Had a chance to ride in Leyland's B15 prototype recently, and was vastly impressed. Although there's nothing startlingly unusual about the exterior shape it has pleasing proportions, and the detail is good. I was surprised to note how many London pedestrians turned to give it a second look (it was in LT livery, so not obviously novel).
The external quietness of the bus is quite remarkable (you can't really hear it on tickover) and the upper deck is markedly quiet too, though I thOught he rear lower saloon was about Atlantean standard. The really big step forward is , in the ride. You can sit in one of the longitudinal seats and line up the far-side window frame with the fronts of shops and buildings that one is passing, and there is a complete absence of the "joggle" which on a conventional bus can make your eyes blur. The B15 just seems to glide
levelly along.
I hope they do something about the seats before it gets into production, though The
present type are thinly upholstered and very upright, which I did not find comfortable, and they have metal handrails along the back squab which press into one's shoulders.
Still, that's a detail. For a brand new vehicle I thought it extremely well planned and finished.