CHANGING DIRECTION--RETHINKING URBAN BUS DESIGN TO ATTRACT THE 21ST CENTURY PASSENGER

Modern society is demanding more accessible city buses, that can provide a safe and comfortable environment for passengers. Most current designs of urban buses have a mechanical layout dating back 50+ years, when operating requirements were very different. This paper describes the LoBUS low floor bus concept, designed for today's modern conditions. The major prerequisite is that responsibility for fare collection is entirely removed from the driver, as is becoming more common in many cities. The new design consists of a power module, attached to a passenger module. The power module contains a front wheel drive power train, and the driver's accommodation, enabling the passenger module to have a very low floor with small trailing wheels and a simple structure. There is enormous flexibility in door/interior layout. While the most common variant is likely to be a 12-meter-long, single-deck bus, double-deck and articulated buses can also be built. The concept is feasible with available components, but manufacturers would face many challenges in order to creat a practical vehicle with competitive life cycle costs.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/1853127167
• Corporate Authors:

  WIT Press

  Ashurst Lodge
  Ashurst, Southampton  United Kingdom  SO40 7AA
• Authors:
  • Woodcock, E
• Conference:
  • Urban Transport X. Urban Transport and the Environment in the 21st Century
  • Location: Dresden, Germany
  • Date: 2004-5-19 to 2004-5-21
• Publication Date: 2004-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 511-520
• Serial:
  • Publication of: WIT Press
  • Publisher: WIT Press
  • ISSN: 1462-608X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Articulated buses; Bus transit; Buses by size; Double deck buses; Low floor vehicles; Passenger vehicles; Urban transportation; Vehicle design
• Subject Areas: Design; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00979019
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 1853127167
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 1 2004 12:00AM