I'd be missing out on telling folks on the best use of old buses I've personally read about if I didn't point out a British companies use for "discontinued" (not-in-regular-service) double-decker buses...

Double Decker Living is a company in London that converts old double-deckers that are no longer running routes into temporary shelters.

Complete with bathrooms and bedrooms as well as a "community space", the buses make ideal "emergency shelters" or yes, even motor homes... although, I believe, the company is more interested in making them the former... emergency shelters... than motor homes... at least to start with.

Their "motto" for the buses is "Still Working for London".

I first heard of them through an excellent article in The BBC News and thought it was a wonderful idea... and a "green" idea too.

Basically, recycle that which would become "scrap" into moveable shelters for those who are homeless... Excellent thought. Bring the shelter to those most in need.

According to the article on the BBC...

"The double decker is such an iconic London image, we wanted to see what we could do with it," said Jason Hart of Double Decker Living.

"Everyone I speak to laughs because it sounds so strange but once they see it for themselves, they become very enthusiastic about the idea."

For the first stage of the project - to be launched on 19 December - Leyland Olympian double deckers are being used, but plans are under way for a Routemaster version.

Centrepoint charity for young homeless people will use the buses as teaching venues for life skills classes, covering topics such as cooking and interview preparation.

The company makes no bones about it either... they are also "gearing up" for the motor home/caravan market...

Environmental issues have been at the forefront of our minds during the conception and conversion of these buses. They are fitted with a solar panel to help lighten the ever growing energy ‘burden’ that we face. Generators and heaters that the buses are equipped with are of the ‘run quiet’ variety to reduce noise pollution to a negligible level. The WC waste is rapidly converted to compost and collected on a regular basis, as is the water. Each bus comes with two fold away bicycles which the occupants will be encouraged to use. Dedicated refuse bins and recycling are also provided and emptied as appropriate.

Every bus has a communal ‘family’ type area where occupants interact and socialise. Audio and visual facilities are provided so that quality time together is of whatever nature the residents choose.

The provision of ‘private space’ is also crucial and to this end each bedroom is a comfortable, ventilated and heated space with its own window to provide light levels far beyond that which most of us experience within a more conventional dwelling.

...photo of the inside of the bus...

...photo of the inside of the bus...

Now, I know I've kvetched in the past on this blog about people "carving up" old buses to the point of not being able to restore them... but this is one place where I heartily support that!

Although our dream of eventually owning and modifying RLH 3 (which is a much older and rarer bus than the Atlanteans and the Routemasters the company plans to work with,) we are going to keep "mutilation" to a minimum and keep all the original parts we can for future restoration...

Anyway, I just wanted to share this bit about this company... a good use for old buses!

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