Difference between revisions of "Bus"
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| + | [[Image:zzz-1stBus.jpg|thumb|right|213px|First bus in history: a Benz truck modified by Netphener company (1895)]] | ||
| + | [[Image:honoluluthebus.jpg|thumb|300px|[[TheBus]], established by Mayor Frank Fasi, is Honolulu's only public transit system. It was twice honored as ''America's Best Transit System''.]] | ||
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| − | A '''bus''' is a large [[wheel]]ed [[vehicle]] intended to carry numerous persons in addition to the [[driving|driver]]. The name is a shortened version of '''''omnibus''''', which means "for everyone". | + | A '''bus''' is a large, motorized, [[wheel]]ed [[vehicle]] intended to carry numerous persons in addition to the [[driving|driver]]. The name is a shortened version of '''''omnibus''''', which means "for everyone". |
==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | The omnibus, the first organized [[public transit]] system, may have originated in [[Nantes, France]] in | + | The omnibus, the first organized [[public transit]] system, may have originated in [[Nantes, France]] in 1826, when a retired army officer who had built public baths on the city's edge set up a short stage line between the center of town and his baths. When he discovered that passengers were just as interested in getting off at intermediate points as in patronizing his baths, he shifted the stage line's focus. His new ''voiture omnibus'' ("carriage for all") combined the functions of the hired [[hackney carriage]] with the [[stagecoach]] that travelled a predetermined route from inn to inn, carrying passengers and mail. His omnibus featured wooden benches that ran down the sides of the vehicle; entry was from the rear. |
| − | Whether by direct emulation, or because the idea was in the air, by 1832 the idea had been copied in Paris, Bordeaux and Lyons. A London newspaper reported in July 4, 1829 that | + | Whether by direct emulation, or because the idea was in the air, by 1832 the idea had been copied in Paris, Bordeaux and Lyons. A London newspaper reported in July 4, 1829 that "the new vehicle, called the ''omnibus'', commenced running this morning from Paddington to the City". This [[Buses in London|bus]] service was operated by [[George Shillibeer]]. |
| − | In [[History of New York City|New York]], omnibus service began in the same year, when Abraham Brower, an entrepreneur who had organized volunteer fire companies, established a route along [[Broadway]] starting at [[Bowling Green (New York City)|Bowling Green]]. Other American cities soon followed suit: Philadelphia in 1831, Boston in 1835 and Baltimore in 1844. In most cases, the city governments granted a private company—generally a small stableman already in the [[livery]] or freight-hauling business—an exclusive franchise to operate public coaches along a specified route. In return, the company agreed to maintain certain minimum levels of service—though one of these standards was not upholstery. The New York omnibus quickly moved into the urban consciousness. In 1831, New Yorker [[Washington Irving]] remarked of Britain's [[Reform Act 1832|Reform Act]] (finally passed in 1832): "The great reform omnibus moves but slowly." | + | In [[History of New York City|New York]], omnibus service began in the same year, when Abraham Brower, an entrepreneur who had organized volunteer fire companies, established a route along [[Broadway (New York City)|Broadway]] starting at [[Bowling Green (New York City)|Bowling Green]]. Other American cities soon followed suit: Philadelphia in 1831, Boston in 1835 and Baltimore in 1844. In most cases, the city governments granted a private company—generally a small stableman already in the [[livery]] or freight-hauling business—an exclusive franchise to operate public coaches along a specified route. In return, the company agreed to maintain certain minimum levels of service—though one of these standards was not upholstery. The New York omnibus quickly moved into the urban consciousness. In 1831, New Yorker [[Washington Irving]] remarked of Britain's [[Reform Act 1832|Reform Act]] (finally passed in 1832): "The great reform omnibus moves but slowly." |
[[Image:HDaumierOmnibus.JPG|thumb|left|240px|"Omnibus," crayon and watercolor drawing by [[Honoré Daumier]], 1864 ([[Walters Art Museum]]).]] | [[Image:HDaumierOmnibus.JPG|thumb|left|240px|"Omnibus," crayon and watercolor drawing by [[Honoré Daumier]], 1864 ([[Walters Art Museum]]).]] | ||
The omnibus had many repercussions for society, particularly in that it encouraged [[urbanization]]. Socially, the omnibus put city-dwellers, even if for only half an hour, into previously-unheard-of physical intimacy with strangers, squeezing them together knee-to-knee (''illustration, left''). Only the very poor remained excluded. A new division in urban society now came to the fore, dividing those who kept carriages from those who did not. The idea of the "carriage trade", the folk who never set foot in the streets, who had goods brought out from the shops for their appraisal, has its origins in the omnibus crush. | The omnibus had many repercussions for society, particularly in that it encouraged [[urbanization]]. Socially, the omnibus put city-dwellers, even if for only half an hour, into previously-unheard-of physical intimacy with strangers, squeezing them together knee-to-knee (''illustration, left''). Only the very poor remained excluded. A new division in urban society now came to the fore, dividing those who kept carriages from those who did not. The idea of the "carriage trade", the folk who never set foot in the streets, who had goods brought out from the shops for their appraisal, has its origins in the omnibus crush. | ||
| − | + | [[Image:Guatemala-Chicken-Buses.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|The (in)famous Chicken Buses of [[Guatemala]].]] | |
The omnibus also extended the reach of the North Atlantic post-[[Georgian era|Georgian]], post-[[Federal architecture|Federal]] city. The walk from the former village of [[Paddington]] to the business heart of London in the "City" was a brisk one for a young man in good condition. The omnibus offered the nearer suburbs more access to the inner city. | The omnibus also extended the reach of the North Atlantic post-[[Georgian era|Georgian]], post-[[Federal architecture|Federal]] city. The walk from the former village of [[Paddington]] to the business heart of London in the "City" was a brisk one for a young man in good condition. The omnibus offered the nearer suburbs more access to the inner city. | ||
| − | More intense urbanization was to follow. Within a very few years, the New York omnibus had a rival in the [[tram|streetcar]]: the first streetcar ran along [[The Bowery]], which offered the excellent improvement in amenity of riding on smooth iron rails rather than clattering over [[granite]] setts, called "Belgian blocks". | + | More intense urbanization was to follow. Within a very few years, the New York omnibus had a rival in the [[tram|streetcar]]: the first streetcar ran along [[Bowery (Manhattan)|The Bowery]], which offered the excellent improvement in amenity of riding on smooth iron rails rather than clattering over [[granite]] setts, called "Belgian blocks". The new streetcars were financed by John Mason, a wealthy banker, and built by an Irish contractor, John Stephenson. The streetcars would become even more centrally important than the omnibus in the future of urbanization. |
When motorized transport proved successful after ''ca'' 1905, a motorized omnibus was for a time sometimes called an '''''autobus'''''. | When motorized transport proved successful after ''ca'' 1905, a motorized omnibus was for a time sometimes called an '''''autobus'''''. | ||
==Types== | ==Types== | ||
| − | [[Image:TourBus.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:TourBus.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Tour buses are a common tourist attraction in larger cities.]] |
| − | [[Image:CTA-articulated-bus.jpg|right|thumb| | + | [[Image:MANnl222g.jpg|thumb|250px|right||MAN G&S NL222, Vienna]] |
| − | [[Image:GLI6080-DL3.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:CTA-articulated-bus.jpg|right|thumb|250px|An [[articulated bus]] operated by the [[Chicago Transit Authority|CTA]] in [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]].]] |
| − | [[Image:Laidlaw school bus.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:GLI6080-DL3.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]] bus.]] |
| − | [[Image:Buses in Helsinki centre.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:Laidlaw school bus.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Laidlaw]] School Bus.]] |
| − | + | [[Image:Buses in Helsinki centre.jpg|thumb|250px|Modern [[Scania AB|Scania]] buses in [[Helsinki]].]] | |
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*[[Articulated bus]] | *[[Articulated bus]] | ||
| − | *[[Low-floor]] | + | *[[Double-decker bus]] |
| + | *[[Guided bus]] | ||
| + | *[[Gyrobus]] | ||
| + | *[[Low-floor|Low-floor bus]] | ||
*[[Midibus]] | *[[Midibus]] | ||
*[[Minibus]] | *[[Minibus]] | ||
| + | *[[Coach#Motor coach|Motorcoach]] | ||
| + | *[[Party bus]] | ||
| + | *[[guided bus#Rubber-tyred "trams"|Rubber tired tram]] | ||
| + | *[[School bus]] | ||
| + | *[[Shuttle|Shuttle bus]] | ||
*[[Trolleybus]] | *[[Trolleybus]] | ||
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| − | ==Manufacture and | + | ==Manufacture and manufacturers== |
| − | + | {{further|[[:Category:Bus manufacturers]]}} | |
==Bus line operators== | ==Bus line operators== | ||
| − | + | {{further|[[List of bus companies]]}} | |
==Types of bus service== | ==Types of bus service== | ||
Buses are an intrinsic part of everyday life, and play an important part in the social fabric of many countries. | Buses are an intrinsic part of everyday life, and play an important part in the social fabric of many countries. | ||
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| + | ===City transit=== | ||
| + | Most urban public transportation systems in North America rely chiefly on a bus network to provide services. The largest single city bus fleet in North America is in [[Transportation in New York City|New York City]]. | ||
===Intercity travel=== | ===Intercity travel=== | ||
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===Desegregation busing=== | ===Desegregation busing=== | ||
{{main|Desegregation busing}} | {{main|Desegregation busing}} | ||
| − | In some areas of the United States, a [[Desegregation busing|forced busing]] system has been used to achieve racial [[desegregation]] of public schools. Under a busing plan, children do not necessarily go to the nearest school geographically, but to such a school where there is an appropriate racial | + | In some areas of the United States, a [[Desegregation busing|forced busing]] system has been used to achieve racial [[desegregation]] of public schools. Under a busing plan, children do not necessarily go to the nearest school geographically, but to such a school where there is an appropriate mix of racial diversity. |
===Buses and segregation=== | ===Buses and segregation=== | ||
{{main|Montgomery Bus Boycott}} | {{main|Montgomery Bus Boycott}} | ||
| − | Bus services were also a focal point in the [[American Civil Rights Movement]] of the | + | Bus services were also a focal point in the [[American Civil Rights Movement]] of the 1950s and 1960s in the [[United States]]. In the period after the [[American Civil War]] ended in 1865, [[racial segregation]] in public accommodations, including [[public transport]] such as rail and bus services, was enforced through [[Black Codes]] and [[Jim Crow]] laws. These were made to prevent [[African-American]]s from doing things that a [[Whites|white]] person could do. For instance, Jim Crow laws required bus drivers to enforce separate seating sections. These laws and enforcement varied among communities and states. |
| − | In | + | In 1955, after a long day of work, [[Rosa Parks]], a black seamstress, was arrested in [[Montgomery, Alabama]] for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a public bus, bringing attention to the injustice of differential and degrading treatment based solely upon race. This incident, boycotts of bus services, other protests, and court challenges led a [[U.S. Supreme Court]] ruling banning segregation on public buses and helped lead the [[U.S. Congress]] to the pass the landmark [[1964 Civil Rights Act]] which clarified the unconstitutionality of public racial segregation laws. |
==Miscellaneous== | ==Miscellaneous== | ||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| − | *[[Public transport]] | + | * [[Public transport]] |
| − | *[[Bus rapid transit]] | + | * [[Bus rapid transit]] |
| − | *[[ | + | * [[Jeepney]] |
| − | *[[ | + | * [[Roadway noise]] |
| − | + | * [[Streetcar]] | |
| − | + | * [[Wellesley College Senate Bus]] | |
| − | *[[Streetcar]] | ||
| − | *[[ | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| − | *[http:// | + | |
| + | *[http://busbusbus.com complete bus buyers guide, compare makes and models, conversion issues, repair histories] | ||
*[http://www.busesintl.com/May_2003.htm Busway programs in the Netherlands, bi-articulated bus] | *[http://www.busesintl.com/May_2003.htm Busway programs in the Netherlands, bi-articulated bus] | ||
*[http://www.quinion.com/words/articles/omnibus.htm "A word for all: the odd history of "omnibus""] | *[http://www.quinion.com/words/articles/omnibus.htm "A word for all: the odd history of "omnibus""] | ||
*[http://www.public-transport.net Buses in Europe] | *[http://www.public-transport.net Buses in Europe] | ||
*[http://www.barraclou.com/bus Barraclou.com - Bus] | *[http://www.barraclou.com/bus Barraclou.com - Bus] | ||
| − | *[http:// | + | *[http://busimages.blogspot.com Bus Bus Bus PhotoBlog] |
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Latest revision as of 11:15, 8 October 2009
A bus is a large, motorized, wheeled vehicle intended to carry numerous persons in addition to the driver. The name is a shortened version of omnibus, which means "for everyone".
History
The omnibus, the first organized public transit system, may have originated in Nantes, France in 1826, when a retired army officer who had built public baths on the city's edge set up a short stage line between the center of town and his baths. When he discovered that passengers were just as interested in getting off at intermediate points as in patronizing his baths, he shifted the stage line's focus. His new voiture omnibus ("carriage for all") combined the functions of the hired hackney carriage with the stagecoach that travelled a predetermined route from inn to inn, carrying passengers and mail. His omnibus featured wooden benches that ran down the sides of the vehicle; entry was from the rear.
Whether by direct emulation, or because the idea was in the air, by 1832 the idea had been copied in Paris, Bordeaux and Lyons. A London newspaper reported in July 4, 1829 that "the new vehicle, called the omnibus, commenced running this morning from Paddington to the City". This bus service was operated by George Shillibeer.
In New York, omnibus service began in the same year, when Abraham Brower, an entrepreneur who had organized volunteer fire companies, established a route along Broadway starting at Bowling Green. Other American cities soon followed suit: Philadelphia in 1831, Boston in 1835 and Baltimore in 1844. In most cases, the city governments granted a private company—generally a small stableman already in the livery or freight-hauling business—an exclusive franchise to operate public coaches along a specified route. In return, the company agreed to maintain certain minimum levels of service—though one of these standards was not upholstery. The New York omnibus quickly moved into the urban consciousness. In 1831, New Yorker Washington Irving remarked of Britain's Reform Act (finally passed in 1832): "The great reform omnibus moves but slowly."
The omnibus had many repercussions for society, particularly in that it encouraged urbanization. Socially, the omnibus put city-dwellers, even if for only half an hour, into previously-unheard-of physical intimacy with strangers, squeezing them together knee-to-knee (illustration, left). Only the very poor remained excluded. A new division in urban society now came to the fore, dividing those who kept carriages from those who did not. The idea of the "carriage trade", the folk who never set foot in the streets, who had goods brought out from the shops for their appraisal, has its origins in the omnibus crush.
The omnibus also extended the reach of the North Atlantic post-Georgian, post-Federal city. The walk from the former village of Paddington to the business heart of London in the "City" was a brisk one for a young man in good condition. The omnibus offered the nearer suburbs more access to the inner city.
More intense urbanization was to follow. Within a very few years, the New York omnibus had a rival in the streetcar: the first streetcar ran along The Bowery, which offered the excellent improvement in amenity of riding on smooth iron rails rather than clattering over granite setts, called "Belgian blocks". The new streetcars were financed by John Mason, a wealthy banker, and built by an Irish contractor, John Stephenson. The streetcars would become even more centrally important than the omnibus in the future of urbanization.
When motorized transport proved successful after ca 1905, a motorized omnibus was for a time sometimes called an autobus.
Types
- Articulated bus
- Double-decker bus
- Guided bus
- Gyrobus
- Low-floor bus
- Midibus
- Minibus
- Motorcoach
- Party bus
- Rubber tired tram
- School bus
- Shuttle bus
- Trolleybus
Manufacture and manufacturers
Bus line operators
Types of bus service
Buses are an intrinsic part of everyday life, and play an important part in the social fabric of many countries.
City transit
Most urban public transportation systems in North America rely chiefly on a bus network to provide services. The largest single city bus fleet in North America is in New York City.
Intercity travel
Intercity bus services have become an important travel connection to smaller towns and rural areas in the United States that do not have airports or train service. A new phenomenon in intercity bus travel has been the Chinatown bus.
Tourism
Some places have buses that resemble streetcars in order to attract tourists or otherwise look nice (see right). A similar phenomenon is Duck Tours, which uses DUKWs converted into buses/cruise boats for tour purposes.
Buses in a social context
Desegregation busing
Template:Main In some areas of the United States, a forced busing system has been used to achieve racial desegregation of public schools. Under a busing plan, children do not necessarily go to the nearest school geographically, but to such a school where there is an appropriate mix of racial diversity.
Buses and segregation
Template:Main Bus services were also a focal point in the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s in the United States. In the period after the American Civil War ended in 1865, racial segregation in public accommodations, including public transport such as rail and bus services, was enforced through Black Codes and Jim Crow laws. These were made to prevent African-Americans from doing things that a white person could do. For instance, Jim Crow laws required bus drivers to enforce separate seating sections. These laws and enforcement varied among communities and states.
In 1955, after a long day of work, Rosa Parks, a black seamstress, was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a public bus, bringing attention to the injustice of differential and degrading treatment based solely upon race. This incident, boycotts of bus services, other protests, and court challenges led a U.S. Supreme Court ruling banning segregation on public buses and helped lead the U.S. Congress to the pass the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act which clarified the unconstitutionality of public racial segregation laws.
Miscellaneous
The usual plural of bus is "buses". "Busses" is sometimes used, but is also the plural of "buss", a dialectal word for "kiss" or a type of boat.