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Turn customers to the rest of the story

From crashes to enforcement operations, reports indicate there is plenty of room for improvement in ensuring bus operators transport passengers in a safe manner. This industry has always hung its hat on the premise it is the safest form of ground transportation. However, in the mind of the public consumer, events over the past year have assaulted the reputation of motorcoach operators. Well-documented and publicized incidents coupled with the lesser-known and surprisingly high rate of vehicles and drivers placed out-of-service during enforcement blitzes erode the public trust and lend to an adversarial environment for enforcement.

Driver error is the issue

Most state transportation departments that conduct commercial vehicle inspections focus primarily on the vehicle, when in fact vehicular issues represent only 5- percent of all moving violations.

Let the Games begin

The February launch in British Columbia of the first full-fledged fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses marks a historic turning point in the bus industry.

Copenhagen Summit speaks to buses as the green solution

The outcome of the recent Copenhagen Summit on Global Warming was inconclusive and disappointing. Perhaps, it was not wise to hold the event in the frigid Danish capital.

Peter Pan stays forever young

Peter Pan operates a fleet of 250 coaches averaging six and a half years in age. Over the next few years the company plans to continue updating the entire fleet with the new graphics and update to the interior cabins.

Differences and standards prescribe retrofit options

My last column [BUSRide, January-February 2010, Risk Management] focused on the decision many operators could soon face with regard to retrofitting seatbelts to the existing fleet. Such a decision will ultimately come down to several factors that include cost, restraint capabilities, customer demand and risk.

Red Carpet Charters offers a positive IT case study

From its three locations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK, and McKinney, TX, Red Carpet Charters and its fleet of 55 coaches move passengers throughout the United States and Canada. The company, a stakeholder company in the International Motorcoach Group (IMG), turns 25 this year.

The County Connection makes a green connection with Gillig and Voith

The County Connection operates fixed-route and paratransit bus service throughout geographically and demographically diverse communities in California

The Van Hool Double Deck accommodates all

dapted for the U.S. market, the ADA-compliant two-door vehicle stands 13-feet high — 18 inches taller than the standard motorcoach with seating for up to 81 passengers. Standard features include cameras, seatbelts and escape hatches, onboard restroom, rear stairs and luggage area.

Retrofitted seat belts could come at a price

Last year it became clear that the government would issue a seatbelt mandate for new motorcoaches. This would not come as a complete surprise to the industry given recent high profile fatal accidents involving ejections, and especially the motorcoach-specific crash testing NHTSA has conducted on the effectiveness of passenger restraints.