I recently visited Japan to meet operators and manufacturers. It was a fascinating experience, with many surprises. Until recently, with a very strong motor industry that features household names like Toyota, Honda, Isuzu and Mitsubishi, Japan was the second largest economy in the world. But now China has overtaken Japan, and it is clear the country is concerned about its much larger neighbor.
Technology is improving the ride for passengers and simplifying management tasks for transit operators at a very rapid pace. Wireless communication and embedded systems such as monitoring diagnostics and advanced GPS services are the new keys to improved bus capabilities.
It’s been a little over a year since I took over as president and CEO of VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio. In that time we have made good progress toward making this transit agency a multimodal system.
My passengers have been talking nearly every day about the Megabus accident a couple of weeks ago. I don’t know any more about the accident than what I read in the papers and online, so I’m not in a position to make any judgments about what the driver did or didn’t do. But accidents like this serve as a reminder to all of us drivers that we have to be vigilant at all times when we’re behind the wheel.
Retaining capable bus and coach drivers has always been a major challenge for motorcoach operators. In today’s travel market, however, retaining safe and qualified drivers is no longer enough. The most competent drivers also serve efficiently and effectively as safety experts, schedulers, technicians, ticket-takers, baggage handlers and customer service representatives.
Two new reports by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveal that more than 72,000 lives were saved between 2005 and 2009 due to seat belt use.
A bus crash Wednesday on Interstate 270 Capital Beltway in Bethesda, MD that left the bus driver dead and nearly a dozen injured is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Micro Bird Inc. used BusCon to launch the G5, a new ROUSH liquid-propane powered duel rear wheel drive vehicle.
IC Bus debut its first fully integrated AC Series small shuttle bus today at the Navistar Engine Plant in suburban Chicago.
The Minnesota Public Transit Association (MPTA) has named the University of Minnesota’s Parking and Transportation Services as the Transit System of the Year.