The Early History of Buses in the U.S.

The first bus routes in the U.S. can be traced back to the early 19th century when horse-drawn omnibuses were introduced in major cities such as New York and Philadelphia. These early buses were often cramped and uncomfortable and could only travel at a slow pace due to the limitations of horsepower. Despite these drawbacks, buses quickly gained popularity as a cheap and convenient way for people without access to horses or carriages to travel around the city.

As the population of the U.S. grew and urbanized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the demand for bus transportation increased. In the early 20th century, motorized buses began to appear on American roads, replacing the horse-drawn omnibuses of the past. These new buses were faster and more reliable and helped to expand the reach of bus routes to more rural areas.

The Rise of the Modern Bus Industry.

In the mid-20th century, the bus industry in the U.S. underwent a major transformation. Large bus companies, such as Greyhound and Trailways, emerged and began to operate long-distance routes across the country. These companies introduced several technological innovations, such as air conditioning and the use of diesel engines, which made bus travel more comfortable and efficient.

In addition to the expansion of long-distance routes, the mid-20th century also saw the development of urban and suburban bus systems in many cities across the U.S. These systems were designed to provide affordable and convenient transportation for people who lived and worked in the city and helped to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.

The Challenges Facing the Bus Industry Today.

Despite the many benefits of bus transportation, the industry has faced a number of challenges in recent years. One major challenge is competition from other forms of transportation, such as airlines and trains, which can offer faster and more convenient travel options for long-distance trips. In addition, economic and regulatory factors, such as the high cost of fuel and the challenges of obtaining permits for new routes, can make it difficult for bus companies to maintain profitability.

Future of Bus Transportation in the U.S.

Despite these challenges, the future of bus transportation in the U.S. is bright. In recent years, there has been a growing trend toward the adoption of electric buses, which offer a cleaner and more efficient alternative to traditional gasoline-powered buses. In addition, many cities are exploring the integration of bus transportation with other forms of public transportation, such as light rail and bike-sharing programs, to create more comprehensive and convenient transportation networks.

Writing essay about the history of buses and bus routes in the U.S.

Writing essays about the history of buses and bus routes in the U.S. can be a fascinating and enlightening experience for students. Through research and analysis, students can gain a deeper understanding of the key events and milestones that have shaped the development of bus transportation in the U.S. over the past century.

Students can explore the early history of buses in the U.S., tracing the development of horse-drawn omnibuses in the 19th century to the motorized buses of the early 20th century. They can also consider the factors that led to the rise of the modern bus industry in the mid-20th century, such as the expansion of long-distance routes and the development of urban and suburban bus systems.

In addition to the technological and economic factors that have impacted the bus industry, students can also examine the cultural and social significance of buses and bus routes in the U.S. For example, they might consider how buses have played a role in connecting and serving marginalized communities, or how they have been depicted in popular culture and media.

Overall, writing essays about the history of buses and bus routes in the U.S. can provide students with a rich and diverse learning experience, helping them to better understand the complex and dynamic nature of transportation and its role in shaping our society.

https://buyextendedessay.com can provide expert assistance with researching and writing an essay about the history of buses and bus routes in the U.S. Our team of experienced writers can help you to explore the key events and milestones that have shaped the development of bus transportation in the U.S., and provide insights and analysis on the technological, economic, cultural, and social factors that have influenced the industry. Whether you need help with the research, writing, or editing process, our team is here to help you succeed.

Conclusion:

The history of buses and bus routes in the U.S. is a rich and complex one, encompassing a wide range of technological, economic, and societal changes. Despite the challenges facing the industry today, buses continue to play a vital role in the transportation landscape of the U.S. and will likely continue to do so well into the future. From the early horse-drawn omnibuses to the electric buses of today, the story of bus transportation in the U.S.

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In 1938, the company made several important design innovations, including the creation of the first school bus with a steel body. In the 1950s, export of products began. In 1957, the name Thomas Saf-T-Liner for the first time appeared. For several decades, this designation applied to all full-size models. In 1962, the company opened a branch in Canada. In 1967, the company developed the convex mirror for buses. In 1972, the company received its present name. In 1978, after years of using chassis produced by third parties: Ford, Dodge, GMC, International Harvester, Volvo, the company has introduced its own.

In the 1970s, rear- and front-drive models were introduced, resulting in the names Saf-T-Liner ER and Saf-T-Liner EF. In the 1980s, the company began to expand its model lineup, increasing its presence in the segment of transit buses and introducing Transit Liner, CL960 Citiliner models. The 1990s were marked by the modernization of equipment, beginning of the development of environmentally friendly models and the start of cooperation with Freightliner, which supplied the chassis. In 1998, Freightliner fully acquired Thomas Built Buses.

In 2000s the reconstruction of production is conducted, a factory for producing low-floor Thomas Dennis models is opened in Jamestown, the company ceases to be a family enterprise and reduces its presence in the segment of general-purpose buses, Thomas Dennis joint venture is reorganized by Daimler, large-scale product upgrades are performed. In the 2010s, the company expanded its range of environmentally friendly models and developed a small school bus.

Thus, the company continues to operate successfully, offering school bus bodies in several configurations: particularly small and small classes of capacity, standard and transit, models for commercial use: from urban to tourist, for outdoor activities (motor homes), specialized versions, created to order. Along with diesel vehicles are present in the line and models operating on gasoline, CNG, propane, and all buses meet high standards of quality and safety, for which the manufacturer is famous.

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Now the lineup includes low-floor city buses Opus 9,15 and 10,5 m long with bodies of English Wright, including hybrid models; touristic replicas of AH-28, Sunliner streetcars.

New Flyer
This company was founded in Manitoba, Canada, in 1930. John Kowal and formerly called Western Auto and Truck Body Works, Western Flyer Coach). Five of its employees assembled the first bus on a Chevrolet chassis. Ten years later, the first open-top pleasure buses were built. In 1948, the company changed its name to Western Flyer.

In 1954, the company built its first trolleybus – the 700E. After ACF-Brill, Kenworth, Marmon-Herrington, Pullman-Standart, St. Louis Car and TwinCoach left the trolleybus market, “horns” became an important field for the firm.

Since the 1960s, New Flyer focused on the production of city buses. Introduced in 1978, the D901 city bus was the first in the U.S. to introduce a curved shape windshield – for better visibility to the driver.

In 1986 the company was bought out by Jan den Oudsen, co-owner of the family bus company Den Oudsen from the Netherlands, changed the name and added the European technologies. Already in 1988 the first low-floor bus, the D40LF, was presented. And ten years later, a one-time order for 6300 vehicles promoted New Flyer to the first ranks of the manufacturers.

In 2003 a new height was reached – the order for 213 hybrid buses was received, the biggest at that time. In addition, since 2005, New Flyer has produced the largest number of trolleybuses for cities in the U.S. and Canada; Vancouver received 262 low-floor cars and Philadelphia received another 38. At the same time, the interiors of all types are updated, and in 2008 the latest generation Xcelsior appears.

Nova Bus.
This company from Canada was part of the GM empire for many years, assembling the brand’s model buses for the local market. In 1987, MCI took over the Canadian plant, but the company continued to assemble city model Classic till the end of the century.

In 1993, Nova gained independence and developed its own low-floor model LFS, which was a symbiosis of GM’s RTS and Classic models. This was made easier by the fact that a year later Nova Bus incorporated the bus company TMC, acquired from MCI, which had been producing the RTS model.

Subsequently, the new model was improved in units and subjected to external changes in accordance with general trends. Thus, the driveline, originally offset to the left on the horizontal axis, gave way to a classical centerline, and the body panels were made of multi-layer fiberglass (impregnated and baked fiberglass). In the following years, this model was assembled by order of different companies from the U.S. and Canada. For example, in March 2012. The Walt Disney Company announced the purchase of a batch of articulated buses for Disneyland California.

In 2005, Nova was purchased by Prevost, a major Canadian manufacturer, which, in turn, is owned by Volvo. Currently, the Nova Bus program is the only LFS series in three modifications: urban, suburban and articulated for BRT. The city 12.4-meter model with 38 seats is equipped with 280 hp Cummins engine and automatic transmission Allison. Suburban in the same body, but with one door and 49 seats.

TMC
Transportation Manufacturing Corporation was created in 1974 as a subsidiary of MCI, owned by Greyhound. In 1987, it began production of the only city model RTS (Rapid Transit System) purchased from GM. In 1994, TMC was sold to NovaBus, which closed it in 2003.

Millennium Transit Services
Millennium Transit Services was formed in 2003 by buying out the closed NovaBus plant in Roswell, New Mexico, with the help of banks and the state government. There it went on to produce the RTS series of city/suburban vehicles developed by GM, later bought back by MCI. Contract deliveries began in 2005, and at the same time an order was received to convert 25 of these buses into gas-powered buses.

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This is due to the local way of life and tradition – the abundance of private vehicles and the extensive network of highways even in the cities do not require extensive use of public transport, as in other countries.

Despite the abandonment of bus production three decades ago, the company is still the most important company in the urban transportation industry. The PD (Old Look) series bus, introduced in 1940, revolutionized the entire industry. Designed by the concern’s Yellow Coach Company, it was the first bus with an aluminum monocoque body, which made the structure lighter. For the first time a self-made two-stroke diesel engine, air suspension, and hydraulic automatic transmission were installed on a vehicle of this class. Urban and suburban, it was produced in 8 variants in length (from 7.6 to 12.6 m), accommodated from 27 to 55 seats and repeatedly modified. A total of 38,000 of these cars were produced.

The second mass model of the concern appeared in 1959. For the unusual rounded shape of windshields the car TDH-5301 received the nickname Fishbowl. Interestingly, officially it was called the “New Look”, while its predecessor was unofficially renamed to “old-fashioned”. It inherited the family design features and was produced until 1977, not only by GM, but also by other companies under license. The most mass-produced bus in the U.S. sold 44,000 units.

The next model appeared as a result of an open all-American competition, the Transbus. Several companies took part in it, and GM won with a bus of an advanced design, officially named RTS (Rapid Transit System). Indeed, the aerodynamic look of the bus does not look old-fashioned even today, 35 years after its debut. The license for its production was successively acquired by Transportation Manufacturing Corporation, NovaBus, Millennium Transit Services, Dupont Industries.

The last city model of concern was a car with a simple name Classic; such it was externally and internally. It was produced under license by various American and Canadian companies.

Over the years, the company developed and produced buses of various types and models. The most popular:

• GM Parlor Series Coach/GM Buffalo – a line of models for making intercity and touring trips, produced from 1939 to 1986, from 1966 to 1980 had a stepped roof at the front.
• GM Old Look – a model with an advanced for that time (1930s) wagon design, aluminum body, six-cylinder engine.
• GM New Look was a city bus to replace New Look which was produced since 1940. It was upgraded several times, was produced in USA and Canada, and was offered in suburban models.
• The B-series and S-series are families of school buses, which were produced at different times.

The manufacturer’s lineup included a significant number of models and modifications, which were produced in small batches. In addition, the range of the manufacturer also currently includes buses of a particularly small class with a capacity. Vans and vans created on their basis appeared in the range of companies in the mid-20th century. Some families, such as the popular Savana, are still in production today (information is current as of 2020).

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Twenty years later Gillig decided to expand the program of city cars, and began cooperating with the company Neoplan to develop buses in the European style. In 1980 the famous Phantom was presented and became the company’s trademark for many years.

Alternative energy sources were massively implemented on these buses. In 1992, gas-powered cars went into mass production, in 1996 – hybrid. The Advantage low-floor city bus is currently being produced at a rate of about 1,200 a year.

In 1976, Gillig signed an agreement with Neoplan to create a series of buses in the European style, the partnership ended in 1979. In 1980 the production of Gillig Phantom was launched, which marked the transition from producing of special models to general purpose vehicles. In 1996, the company introduced H2000LF – the first low floor bus in the lineup, a year later the second – Gillig Advantage. In 2008, the manufacturer joined Henry Crown, whose parent company is CC Industries, Inc.

The company currently produces diesel and gas-powered, hybrid and electric, medium and large capacity, BRT, city and commuter models, and vintage-style variants.

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Since the late 1999s, the merged company has consistently created both Ikarus-based and independent efforts:

CompoBus with a one-piece composite fiberglass and plastic resin body;
NABI 30-LFN – a low-floor 9-meter, produced from 2000 to 2005;
60-BRT – a 60-foot (18.29 meter) low-floor articulated bus, which had been in development since early 2003 and introduced in 2004.
In 2006, the company Cerberus Capital Management acquired the shares of NABI, and later Blue Bird Corporation. At the same time, NABI announced its acquisition of Optima Bus Corporation in Wichita, Kansas, determined to retain the brands and add vehicles under those brands to its product portfolio. However, attempts to integrate the production of smaller Optima and Blue Bird buses into NABI’s operations ultimately proved disruptive, with NABI discontinuing production of these brands’ vehicles in 2010. In 2010, NABI introduced the 12-meter Sirius bus, built on a MAN chassis.

In 2013, New Flyer Industries announced its acquisition of North American Bus Industries, Inc. However, New Flyer retained the NABI brand, and production of the vehicles continued as well. This made NABI a subsidiary of New Flyer under the legal name NABI Bus, LLC. However, as early as 2014, New Flyer announced that production of NABI vehicles would be discontinued after existing orders were fulfilled. The last bus – the 40-LFW was manufactured – in 2015. The Alabama plant continues to operate, producing New Flyer products.

Thus, over the years, the company has produced low-floor (LFW and LFN) and standard (SFW) models, as well as BRT, medium, large and extra large class, single-section and articulated, diesel, hybrid and natural gas-fueled variants.

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