Thanks to companies like Proterra, electric buses have evolved beyond the prototyping phase of development, and are now being used by municipal transit services in a number of major cities. Soon, they may even be coming to a school district near you. In Southern California, the South Coast Air Quality Management District recently approved the purchase of 33 electric school buses for $8.8 million in a unanimous decision. The buses offer a range of at least 60 miles per charge, and cost roughly $250,000 each. These zero-emission buses will be distributed to 18 school districts throughout the Greater Los Angeles… Read more »
Blog Posts From Las Vegas Bus Sales
RTC Transit App Is Saving Thousands of Dollars in Expenses
Last year, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada released a smartphone app called rideRTC that allows riders to purchase tickets digitally and easily find bus routes to locations throughout Las Vegas. The app was designed to make it easier for visitors to find their way around the city, and eliminate barriers that might dissuade people from using public transportation. In addition to helping people plan their bus rides, rideRTC can also connect people with ridesharing services and find RTC Bike Share locations around Las Vegas. Now, less than 10 months after the app was released, the RTC has revealed… Read more »
Hyundai Introduces Impressive Electric Bus Design
There are a number of bus manufacturers that are currently working on electric buses that will be able to travel for hundreds of miles at a time on a single charge. One of these companies is the Korean automaker Hyundai, which is planning on unveiling the Elec City bus in 2018. The Elec City bus is going to be the very first mass-produced electric bus produced by Hyundai, and it sounds like it’s going to have some exciting features. The Elec City bus will rely on a 256kWh battery pack that will allow for it to go for up to… Read more »
“Uberized” Bus Companies Could Ease Urban Congestion
In recent years, ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft have begun offering city dwellers an attractive, affordable alternative to taxi rides and trips in their own vehicles. Now, other companies are beginning to apply the ride-sharing business model to bus transit as well. In San Francisco, a company called Chariot has developed an app that allows people to hail rides from buses in their area on-demand, just like they would with an Uber. Meanwhile, in New York City, some people are speaking out in favor of a similar ride-sharing program that could alleviate stress on the existing MTA bus system…. Read more »
In St. Louis, a Metro Bus Hits 1 Million Miles
There’s a special kind of pride that comes with taking good care of a vehicle and watching the odometer tick into high mileages. But while many people are content to retire their vehicles after 100,000 miles or so, the Metro transit service in St. Louis has achieved an even more impressive accomplishment by running a bus for an incredible 1 million miles. Its Cummins M11 engine has never required an overhaul despite being driven consistently for more than a decade and a half. “To put it into perspective, it’s the same as if this bus had traveled around the world… Read more »
5 Alternative Uses for Buses [Infographic]
Thanks to their large frames and spacious interiors, buses are especially versatile vehicles that can be used for a whole lot more than just ferrying commuters to and from work. Over the years, we’ve seen enterprising individuals transform buses into all sorts of things—from tailgating hot spots at football games to mobile shelters for the homeless. Used school buses are particularly popular options for bus conversions, because they are abundant and relatively inexpensive. With all these great conversion ideas in mind, we put together a handy infographic that outlines 5 of our favorite alternative uses for buses. Check it out,… Read more »
Experimental Singapore Bus Stop Aims to “Make Waiting Fun”
Generally speaking, bus stops aren’t known for being places that people look forward to visiting. Instead, these small, spartan shelters serve as waypoints on the path to bigger and better destinations. In many cities, however, commuters spend a significant portion of their work weeks waiting for rides at bus stations. That’s why transit officials in the Jurong Lake District of Singapore decided to create a bus stop loaded with amenities to provide commuters with an extra measure of comfort and convenience while they wait. After coming up with the idea for a bus stop that could “make waiting fun,” Singapore… Read more »
Baltimore to Install Bus-Friendly Traffic Light Sensors
Rush hour traffic is certainly frustrating for commuters in cars, but it can be especially disruptive to public bus services. When buses are caught in gridlock and forced to sit through multiple light cycles, it can cause a phenomenon known as “bus bunching,” wherein the next bus in line catches up to the bus ahead of it. This can wreak havoc on bus schedules, sometimes leaving commuters left in the lurch while they wait for buses that might be hours behind schedule. This issue has been particularly problematic in Baltimore, where the Metro Transit Authority (MTA) has been struggling to… Read more »
Transit Buses in Las Vegas Get Free Wi-Fi Service
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) has made some big changes to its bus service in recent months. Late last year, the RTC released a mobile app which allows riders to find bus stops, track buses in real time, and purchase transit passes right from their smartphones. The app was designed to make RTC buses as convenient and accessible as possible. Now, the RTC has made another upgrade that promises to add yet another level of convenience to its bus fleet: free Wi-Fi service. In early February, RTC General Manager Tina Quigley announced that the transit commission had… Read more »
London Ditches Diesel Buses
In December of 1952, a cold weather system descended on London and caused a buildup of factory smog so severe that visibility was reduced to just a few feet. Now known as the Great Smog of 1952, the event forced London officials to finally take steps to alleviate the city’s ongoing air-pollution problems. Since then, London has made sweeping reforms that have significantly improved the city’s air quality. London’s air quality might be a whole lot better than it was in the 1950’s, but there’s still room for improvement. City officials estimate that roughly 9,400 premature deaths happen every year… Read more »
