SP90 From United States of America, joined May 2006, 386 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 11 months 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 1763 times:
I look at the airport shuttle buses and compared to city buses I can't help but wonder why the city buses can't look like this. By looking like this I'm referring to how they're low to the ground, wheels covered and have a flat floor all the way through. Being lower to the ground, they're easy to get in and out of. The wheels are covered but they obviously have no problem turning left or right. I understand city buses would get rid of all the doors on the driver side and keep just the front and one pair of rear door.
rfields5421 From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 6150 posts, RR: 25 Reply 1, posted (1 year 11 months 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 1747 times:
I doubt those busses can handle the bumps, potholes, grade changes of a normal city street. Not enough ground clearance.
sw733 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 6072 posts, RR: 10 Reply 2, posted (1 year 11 months 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 1737 times:
Quoting SP90 (Thread starter): Being lower to the ground, they're easy to get in and out of.
Most city streets have more potholes and rough patches than an airport, so being lower to the ground can create some big problems. This could be especially problematic in cities with big differences in temperatures creating more potholes - think Boston, Chicago, NYC, Philly, etc.
sw733 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 6072 posts, RR: 10 Reply 3, posted (1 year 11 months 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 1733 times:
Quoting rfields5421 (Reply 1): I doubt those busses can handle the bumps, potholes, grade changes of a normal city street. Not enough ground clearance.
Ha, beat me to it. I started my post and then got pulled in to a mini-meeting before I could finish it and you beat me...darn it!
I agree that city street would have more pot holes and such but I don't think the ground clearance on those buses are that much lower that typical city buses. The newer generation of MTA buses I see in NYC have pretty low ground clearance too. When they pull up to the curb the floor at the door is pretty much level with the sidewalk (which is about 6 inches tall). I can also understand the changing grades of the road but not every city is as hilly as San Francisco. I guess what really captivated my about the airport shuttle are the wheel covers and the overall sleek(er) look that gives the bus.
rfields5421 From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 6150 posts, RR: 25 Reply 6, posted (1 year 11 months 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 1588 times:
Many newer city transit busses in US 'kneel' when they stop. The air suspension lowers the front of the vehicle to get the door sil closer to the ground. Then the body raises again when the vehicle starts moving.
Most large city bus maintenance departments would hate wheel covers, and they would end up damaged or 'lost'.
The wheel covers could be important to protect the tires against UV damage.
Folks with large motorhomes in the US frequently put canvas/vinyl covers over their wheels when parked. Since most large RVs don't travel but a few thousand miles per year, the tires can be ruined by UV damage before the tread wears out.
I would expect airport tarmac shuttle busses to have relatively low mileage. They get used a lot, but the trips are short compared to a city or highway bus.
Those busses also don't appear to have the lighting and bumpers required for highway use in the US.
LAXintl From United States of America, joined exactly 13 years ago today! , 22059 posts, RR: 51 Reply 7, posted (1 year 11 months 4 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 1476 times:
Here at LAX we have a fleet of German Cobus models for ramp passenger transfers.
Besides what people have noted above, the buses simply are not street legal in the US. Also one note -- these buses are wide, wider than a typical street lane.
The only thing I could see being used on streets is something like the smaller NABI busses we have here which essentially are articulated street buses anyhow but a bit lower and modified interiors for airport ops.
From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California
goblin211 From United States of America, joined Jun 2010, 1209 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (1 year 11 months 4 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 1421 times:
I'd like to ride on a train that looked like that, but a bus? No, thanks! It would be very bumpy and feel really low. If I was on a bus, I'd like to be up high. Besides, if anything we should adopt a similar concept for a train like the high speed rail in Tokyo.
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16824 posts, RR: 57 Reply 9, posted (1 year 11 months 4 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 1373 times:
Quoting SP90 (Reply 4): The newer generation of MTA buses I see in NYC have pretty low ground clearance too.
JetBlue777 From United States of America, joined Jul 2009, 1427 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (1 year 11 months 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1329 times:
When you said "Why Can't City Buses Look More Like This? " , I thought you meant the A343
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 9): Those buses "kneel" when they arrive at the curb.
Yep. Though some drivers only do it when there's some elderly passengers boarding.
sw733 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 6072 posts, RR: 10 Reply 13, posted (1 year 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 1148 times:
Quoting bohica (Reply 12): I could see one of these busses get hung up on the crest of a hill in San Francisco
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16824 posts, RR: 57 Reply 15, posted (1 year 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 983 times:
ALTF4 From United States of America, joined Jul 2010, 1143 posts, RR: 4 Reply 16, posted (1 year 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 979 times:
Quoting sw733 (Reply 10): Because the average Dublin city bus would be exiting an embassy car park?
Eh. Minor details.
The above post is my opinion. Don't like it? Don't read it.
canoecarrier From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2657 posts, RR: 12 Reply 17, posted (1 year 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 971 times:
Quoting SP90 (Reply 4): The newer generation of MTA buses I see in NYC have pretty low ground clearance too. When they pull up to the curb the floor at the door is pretty much level with the sidewalk (which is about 6 inches tall).
fields beat me too it.
Quoting rfields5421 (Reply 6): Many newer city transit busses in US 'kneel' when they stop.
I ride the bus everyday. Most of the exterior of a bus is cosmetic anyway. Hell, we have the Monorail here in Seattle which was supposed to be the "future" of rail transit in the '60s. When I walk on a bus all I care about is: #1 is there a bike rack #2 are there seat covers and #3 how much is the fare? Oh, and like today would the guy on the bus next to me take a shower more than once a week.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined May 2006, 386 posts, 
, 22059 posts, 
From Sweden, joined Jan 2008, 786 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
