The 310 is a new bus route that begins in Stamford Hill and ends in Golders Green — two famously Jewish enclaves in London. It will run from 7am to 7pm as part of a year-long trial. New bus routes are burgeoning at the moment, serving those slowly being weaned off cars by the Congestion Charge, yet initiatives like Superloop rarely hit the headlines. The 310 is different — largely due to its start and finish destinations.
Initial reporting on the new route placed anti-semitism as its primary reason for existing. The BBC’s headline stated: “Bus service to help Jewish Londoners feel safe”, while GB News’s headline began: “London forced to introduce bus route..”. It’s easy to see why journalists went there: reactions to the war in Gaza have destabilised life for Jewish people in London for almost a year. And at the launch on Monday, the Mayor was happy to make that link explicit: “I know there have been concerns about safety given the terrible rise in antisemitism and this route will provide a safe, sustainable and affordable route for local residents,” he’s quoted as saying.
