Bus

:This article is about the form of transport. See computer bus or electrical bus for the use of the term in computing and electronics respectively, or places like Bus, Pas-de-Calais and Bus-Saint-Rémy.

Types

Coach / Motorcoach

A coach or motorcoach typically is a vehicle designed to travel longer distances than a service bus. As a result it is better equipped with more comfortable seats, a compartment area for luggage and a larger engine. The vehicle is typically higher than a service bus, often features air-conditioning, an on-board toilet and video/entertainment systems.

Related Topics:
Coach - Motorcoach

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Coaches / motorcoaches are flexible vehicles that can be utilized for tourism, vacation travel or inter-city / inter-urban travel.

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Double-deckers

The double-decker bus is designed in two stories in order to accommodate more passengers. Well known as a part of the London public transport system, in a distinctive red livery, they are also extensively used by operators throughout the United Kingdom and in a few cities elsewhere, for example Bombay, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dublin, Berlin, Davis, California, and Victoria, British Columbia.

Related Topics:
Double-decker bus - London - Bombay - Hong Kong - Singapore - Dublin - Berlin - Davis, California - Victoria, British Columbia

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London's Routemaster is a specific model of double-decker bus, which has been in service since the mid 1950s, and has become something of an icon for London. It has an open rear platform for passenger entry and exit. The driver occupies a half-cab isolated from the passenger section and fare collection is the responsibility of a roving conductor. Routemasters are being withdrawn from many routes and replaced by either more modern double-deckers or single-deck articulated buses (below). However it is hoped that they can be retained on at least one route for heritage purposes.

Related Topics:
Routemaster - 1950s - Icon - London - Conductor

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The additional height of a double-deck vehicle make them appealing for use on city sightseeing tours, even in cities around the world that do not utilize them for normal services. Buses are generally constructed with large windows and/or an open top deck offering the best possible vantage point from inside a vehicle.

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In area where double-decker bus operation is not typical, including the United States, there have been numerous experiments using them on high-capacity routes, but often this has proved impractical because the infrastructure (bridges, overhead cables, etc) has not been designed for their additional height.

Related Topics:
Double-decker bus - United States

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Articulated buses

Articulated buses (also known as a artic, bendy bus or long bus in some places) are another permutation for increasing passenger capacity around the world. Found almost exclusively in public transport use, these buses are so long that they would not otherwise be able to negotiate city traffic. To make them nimble enough they are fitted with an extra pair of wheels and a flexible joint (usually located slightly behind the midpoint of the bus, behind the second pair of wheels). Some models of articulated buses have a steering arrangement on the rearmost axle which turns slightly in opposition to the front steering axle, which allows the vehicle to negotiate turns in a somewhat crab-like fashion, an arrangement similar to that used on long hook-and-ladder fire trucks operating in city environs.

Related Topics:
Articulated bus - Public transport - Joint - Fire truck

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Some buses have two flexible joints, and these are called bi-articulated. The busy line 12 in the dutch city of Utrecht, connecting the central station with the university campus is a noteworthy example of these being put to good use.

Related Topics:
Utrecht - University campus

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Some rare combinations between double decker and articulated buses also exist, but these are not in common use.

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Low-floor buses

Low-floor buses were developed towards the end of the 20th century and can increasingly be found all over the world. A major design advantage of a low-floor bus is that it generally can more easily be made accessible to mobility-impaired passengers, who may require the use of wheelchairs, canes, or similar devices. The proximity of the bus floor to kerbs or ground level may avoid the need for passengers to either negotiate steps or deploy an elevator (or wheelchair-lift) when boarding and disembarking. Normally, the bus is built with no steps at all, giving a flat floor for wheelchair users to acces the vehicle. In the U.K all buses must be low-floor by 2016, to comply with Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Regulations. Transport for London (TfL) specifies that all service buses are low-floor.

Related Topics:
Low-floor - 20th century - Wheelchairs - Disability Discrimination Act - Transport for London

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Minibuses

Minibuses are smaller than the ordinary tourist or public transport bus, and are intended to carry from (about) eight to twenty passengers. Due to their smaller size they are often used on routes with few passengers, on narrow rural roads, or on routes where the service frequency is high. In the 1980's several bus operators in the UK converted to high frequency minibus operation, most notably Devon General.

Related Topics:
Minibus - Devon General

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Some minibuses are built from other vehicles that were not originally designed as buses. Examples include the songthaews of Thailand (converted from pickup trucks), the Filipino jeepney (jeep), the Turkish dolmus and Israeli sherut (minivan), etc. In many parts of Africa, they are called matatu, see Transportation in Kenya. In Peru, minibuses are the most popular means of public transportation and are known as micros.

Related Topics:
Songthaew - Thailand - Pickup truck - Filipino - Jeepney - Jeep - Dolmus - Sherut - Minivan - Matatu - Transportation in Kenya - Peru - Micros

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Trolleybus

A trolleybus is a bus driven by electricity supplied from overhead wires by trolley poles.

Related Topics:
Trolleybus - Overhead wire - Trolley

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Guided bus

Guided buses are steered for part or all of their route by a track or rail.

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Shuttle buses

Some buses are termed shuttle buses, or shuttles, after the weaving shuttle, because they operate on a short fixed route making repetitive and frequent trips. Shuttle buses often are used to service two or more transport terminals, such as a rail station, port or airport, or between nearby locations in a traffic-congested area.

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Neighbourhood bus

A neighbourhood bus in the Netherlands, buurtbus, is a complementary public transport service with minibus by volunteer drivers in rural areas, where regular public transport is not feasible.

Related Topics:
Netherlands - Volunteer - Rural

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School bus

A school bus transports children between their homes and school. In the US a school bus is usually a distinctive yellow and is equipped with traffic warning lights and other safety equipment to be used when loading and unloading passengers. Usually operated by school districts or contract bus service providers, the school bus is used to transport children to and from school when they live beyond safe walking distances.

Related Topics:
School bus - Home - School - Distinctive yellow - Contract bus service providers

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First Student is now introducing yellow buses in to the U.K. However most school services are operated using normal buses or coaches.

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In other countries, school buses may not necessarily be yellow. Buenos Aires, and possibly Argentine school buses and vans are orange and marked "escolares."

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Training buses

A training bus is a special kind of bus that is used by bus companies for training the driving skills of bus drivers. It is also used to train the driving skill of a person who is learning to become a bus driver. Driving a training bus on the road is an important part of driving training, as it is the most practical to train one's driving skill.

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