European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 5, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Dirk Beveridge a business writer As the British government proceeds to privatize just about everything it once ran London s red double Decker buses Are rolling toward the auction Block. But bus fans who feared that the lumbering red vehicles would become an endangered species or even extinct saw some of their worries put to rest last March. Bowing to pressure from the tourism Industry officials will insist that private operators keep painting the buses red a v Quot it s a Good . Exercise Quot said lawmaker Steven Norris the minister overseeing transport in London. But the top deck a preferred Choice of most visitors a could vanish. It already has disappeared on some routes through London where operators find they can do better with a Shoebox shaped single Decker. Quot we re not going to return to horses Norris said. Quot we re not going to insist on the  some operators might want to keep using double Deckers anyway after the government Sells off operating rights on the bus routes throughout London he said. The top deck appears be an innovation that dates to 1042, when the government revised the taxes imposed on horse drawn omnibuses charging them on mileage rather than the number of passengers. Operators responded by packing people onto the top. During Britain s Early postwar years the heyday for motorized buses in London the extra space was useful. Now with plenty of seats available on buses most of the time britons who Are daily riders prefer the lower private ownership could signal the end of tendons double Decker buses deck. It is common to see the double Deckers running through town in the Middle of the Day with nobody at All on top. Tourists see things differently. For them red buses like London s old fashioned Black taxis and red phone boxes Are part of the Charm of the British capital. Virtually Alt of them want to ride on top perhaps not knowing that this is where dogs must ride unless their owners get special  it would t be lond a without the double Decker buses Quot said tourist Frances Stoker of Vancouver Wash. Quot that s what London s about like seeing the  Quot it s like the Black taxis Quot agreed her husband Fred. Gazing around Trafalgar Square on a sunny afternoon Frances Stoker noted with dismay that  the taxis Are no longer Black such As one that whizzed Down the a strand painted yellow on the front like a new York cab and Black on Back like a London cab in an Effort to promote United airlines flights bet Wen the cities. Stoker thought the car an abomination even though. She admits being a frequent flyer on the offending airline other taxis Are Blue White red a you name it a advertising everything from Beer to newspapers. Many buses moving through London Are Green White yellow and other colors but they Are on suburban routes and not affected by the Central London rules on red paint. The government won t say How much Money it Hopes to get by Selling the 10 companies that operate London buses with a total Fleet of 4,600 vehicles a 75 percent of the greater London Market a and annual revenues of 38.1 million pounds $572 million. But Lorris says the initiative of private operators will make services better and the government will still. Maintain control Over routes and fares. The Deal is expected to be done by year s end. Britons who ride the bus grumble that things will probably get worse under privatization but in fairness to the proponents this is How the locals talk about Many things including the weather. S be Europe style with an re from the Auto crafts Auto auction at the Worms Auto strip Yard a big. 5961, Bensheimer str. Saturday May 7,1994 10 am the vehicle is equipped with v4 engine Standard shift stove microwave refrigerator Shower sink sleeps six carpeted Gas amp electricity sources to Hook up trailer hitch and More. Prior to auction the vehicle can be seen at the Mannheim outdoor recreation facility 98 Columbus Street. Benjamin Franklin Village Call 0621-739251 for More information a a a a 1 _ a of 1 _ 1. The purchaser must be an authorized id card Holder with logistical support. The recreation vehicle is equipped with German specifications and does not include the German title registration Brief . The re will be sold Quot As  0 jew Faim h in i j As Cut Loihl mov a s As la Rii Walfy  Hmira Wauk Haiml name of nth Nhy a monday Friday 11 00 . 6 00 . Saturday 11 00 . 5 00 . Sunday 1 00 . 5  phone Dan 452-6635 location Span Dahlem air base behind the fitness Center big. 152 1 s 1 t 1 o r 1 e May 5, 1994 stripes Magazine 17