Double decker buses for public transit

If the double-decker bus proves successful, Community Transit will purchase 10 to 20 of the buses, which are made in Scotland. Ken Lambert/Seattle Times.

The Seattle Times reports, in "Community Transit to test Scottish double-decker bus," that Community Transit, the Snohomish County, Washington public transit agency providing service to Seattle, is testing a Scottish-produced double decker bus. According to the article, the 40 foot long bus holds 80 people in two levels, while 60 foot articulated buses hold only 60 people. Plus, the bus handles better in snow. They cost a bit more than articulated buses. Public transit systems in Las Vegas and Victoria, BC also use this bus, in addition to tourist marketing organizations in San Francisco, NYC, and maybe DC.

I wrote about double decker buses a few months ago. I think that more transit systems should consider using them. They stick out in a positive way (marketing that doesn't cost money), and they move more people in a smaller amount of space. The Olympus model produced by another company, East Lancashire Coachbuilders, has a maximum capacity of just over 90 people. I wonder if these kinds of buses should be used on bus rapid transit routes as they appear to be much less expensive than the long articulated buses often in use.

However, double-decker buses wouldn't do so well in low-ceiling bus stations and garages. See "Newer Metrobuses Too Tall For Friendship Heights Station" from the Washington Post.

Kowloon Motor Bus Transbus International Enviro 500 on Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon serving Route 1, Hong Kong Copyright © 2005 mailer_diablo, via Wikipedia.