Double-Decker Buses to be Tested on San Francisco’s Hilly Streets
San Francisco’s public transit agency, Muni, will begin testing London style double-decker buses on some of the city’s most populated routes in the hopes of speeding up service.
(Click through the jump to read on including Muni’s official press release.)
Offering a capacity of 83 seats versus the 55 available in the current coaches, the two-tiered rides also take up less maintenance yard space than the existing 60-foot articulated buses. The City, currently has one loaner copy of the Enviro 500 double-decker (pictured), manufactured in Sussex, England by Alexander Dennis Ltd.
Riders on the $800,000 bus will be charged no fare in return for providing Muni with valuable feedback on the unique vehicle.
+ Telstar Logistics: London Comes to SF: Double-Decker Busses Tested On City Streets
From Wednesday, December 12, 2007 to Monday, January 8, 2008, when Muni customers board the distinctive double deck bus, they will be invited to ride free-of-charge and provide feedback to the SFMTA about the bus. Six-days-a-week, from morning to night, the statuesque vehicle will move from route to route to allow SFMTA planners and operators the opportunity to see how well the bus performs. This will allow as many Muni customers and operators as possible the opportunity to let the SFMTA know what they think of the unique vehicle.“Looking at innovative approaches to our transportation needs is exactly the purpose of the TEP,
Comments
Sharky
Being an SF resident I can tell you one thing for certain: The second floor of these buses will become a bum and gangbanger hangout in no time flat, covered in graffiti and littered with trash. I love my city but the public transit system - particularly the buses - is at times horrendous. Offering free rides will just turn these buses into rolling homeless shelters.
CHARLES G.
Well, then they won't be homeless anymore.
smokeydog001
Don't forget the gays! That's the problem with public transportation, its public!
Brock
I suppose a "Bullitt" edition is inevitable....
Jonathan Fung [Gotakon]
I love double decker buses!
But I do remember when Hawaii gave out free bus rides for a week to regain customers after the bus drivers strike. There were quite a few homeless people just going along for the ride. But they never caused much trouble or vandalized the buses. Then again, I don't know about SF.
Eljay
Oh,stop complaining! In some asian countries they even put passengers on the roof!
john Riley
Many of the routes in San Francisco use trolley coaches. I am guessing this won't work on those routes.
Winding Road » Archive » Double Trouble: Double-Decker Buses
[...] Seattle - is using the two-story vehicle in regular service. We’d already heard the agency was testing an Alexander Dennis Enviro 500 low-floor double-decker bus, but these are the first photos we’ve seen of them in [...]
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