BS: US school buses?

Subject: US school buses?
From: The Shambles
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 03:45 AM

Are all US school buses the same make of yellow vehicle?Do they have to be?

Here in the UK there is not much of a standard in colour or design. There are no special 'rules of the road' applying to how to treat school transport either.

Subject: RE: US school buses?
From: Jeanie
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 04:26 AM

I agree - here in the UK it seems to me they use the oldest buses for school journeys, just before they are condemned to the scrap heap. There is always a big fuss on school outings to ensure that the children are strapped into their seatbelts - but the same does not apply on the daily school buses to and from school.

A bus-load of girls from my daughter's (allegedly goody-goody convent)school got their revenge the other week. Their bus was already nearly an hour late, and eventually appeared with a relief driver who didn't know where to take them - so they directed him on an hour's jaunt to Stansted Airport, totally the wrong direction, arriving at school just in time for lunch ! St. Trinian's rools OK !!

- jeanie

Subject: RE: US school buses?
From: RWJ
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 04:36 AM

US type school buses are being itroduced over here I kow of a trial scheme in Safordshire

Subject: RE: US school buses?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 04:37 AM

The school buses in Massachusetts are exactly the same as those in Florida, so probably yes, they are the same nationwide.

Also, it is illegal to pass a school bus (in either direction) while it is boarding or dischatging passengers.

Murray

Subject: RE: US school buses?
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 06:40 AM

Roger, the laws here governing school bus transportation are strict and although there are minor variances between states they are pretty uniform. The state rules are in addition to the Federal law governing public school transport and serve to add additional safety regulations. Maintenance is monitored very closely and school systems can have funding lost for infractions.

The bus chassis are made by several manufacturers, but there are a limited number of bus builders who construct the actual bus. There used to be one a few miles from here on the Indiana border and it was a real sight to see acres and acres of buses in various stages of completion.....people used to call it "the bus farm." In any case, the builders all have specific safety equipment and the like that must be installed. The buses all must comply with Federal regulations.

I had no idea that the same was not the case in the UK.

Spaw

Subject: RE: US school buses?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 09:22 AM

There are a couple of manufacturers, all I think going by the same regulations, and the color I believe is standardized. A big debate here (HUGE) has been, seatbelts in buses or not? I imagine if other countries are importing our buses or going to these styles, you'll have that to deal with as well.

~Susan

Subject: RE: US school buses?
From: The Shambles
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 09:27 AM

Many thanks. The bus that I travelled on at night, (after school or during the holidays, I think), had manual door operation. This was a long handle from the door to the driver, rather than the more usual hydraulic type affair that is more common on all buses here now. Was this an older version of the school bus or is this normal and thought to be safer?

Subject: RE: US school buses?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 09:43 AM

I think our school buses are just made to be cheaper than city buses and are more lightweight and less fitted up with electric controls. Like some US cars have all kinds of bells and whistles to move seats, lock/unlcok doors and windows, pop the trunk/boot, heat up the driver's seat (yes!).... school buses are more stripped down, utilitarian, because of the wear and tear they will get (kids are kids) and the cost to the schools.

~S~

Subject: RE: US school buses?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 09:48 AM

SCHOOL BUS WORLD

Subject: RE: US school buses?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 09:52 AM

Bernie's Model and Classic Bus Depot (UK)

Subject: RE: US school buses?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 09:59 AM

FUNNY BUS STORIES

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 12:44 PM

Not too many years back, I got a good deal on a new 12 passenger, one-ton, Chevrolet van, that carried a "rating-plate" with the notation "12 Passenger Bus, NOT A SCHOOL BUS." The distinguishing feature was that the rear doors could not be opened from the inside - a requirement then under Federal regulations for school buses.

Based on the paint scheme, I assumed that my good deal was the result of an order by a local motel chain, who then refused to take the vehicle - and left the dealer stuck with a rather ugly truck. I took out 8 of the 10 removable seats and had a good "heavy hauler."

"Fleet Operators" who contract with school districts to run school bus services tend to buy similar vehicles from a few manufacturers, and they all tend to look much alike. There is nothing, however, preventing them from buying suitably equipped vehicles from any source. There is much more variation in the equipment used by smaller (usually private) schools.

So far as I know, it is illegal in all states to pass a school bus that is stopped for loading and unloading, but this was a matter of individual state - not federal - law (although this may have changed recently). For smaller buses, this means "if lights are flashing," although most fleet buses have an additional "swing-out stop sign" to show that they are actually loading. (In some states, a bus with the swing-out sign can park with lights flashing, and can be legally passed, unless the "loading/stop" sign is also displayed. This avoids holding up traffic while the bus waits for those kids whose mom [or daddy] overslept. But you have to know the local rules - fines can be enormous.)

Many local jurisdictions, and perhaps some states, require a "front view mirror" that permits the driver to see the ground within about a foot of the front bumper - a response to a few kids who've been smashed when they tried to cross the street in front of the bus and were too short to be seen. Some jurisdictions permit a "sweeper bar" attachment, in lieu of or in addition to the front mirror, that can be swung out when the bus stops and that blocks the kids from (or whacks them out of) any forward area not visible to the driver.

Some states, and many local jurisdictions, impose specific rules on anyone transporting more than (fill in a number) children not in the same family. Typical are that the driver must be a parent and/or over a certain age - your teenage kid can't drive a group on a field trip; you must have minimum liability insurance - typically in the $100,000 and higher ranges; and you must have a seat for each passenger - for starters.

All of these regulations are commonly violated - most frequently by Churches and Scout (or similar) groups.

John

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 12:54 PM

John, a lot of the rules don't apply to church buses and former school buses after they go out of service. That's creating a big stink in several states at the moment. Public school buses must meet a list of Federal requirements. As you move down the list to privat schools, churches, motor homes, etc., many of the requirements go out the window.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 01:05 PM

Maybe I'm wrong, but I had the impression that U.S. school buses haven't changed much since I rode them when I was a kid - and that was a long, long, time ago.
1950's to be exact.
Our local district uses some smoke-belching buses that look like they could be that old. The newer buses look just like the old ones.
There is a rear exit door for emergency escape, but I don't believe seat belts are required in most states. The bus body sure doesn't look as sturdy as the body of a city bus.

The traffic laws concerning school buses are pretty good. Buses are required to stop at railroad crossings. When they stop to let off passengers, red lights flash and vehicles must stop in all directions.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 01:53 PM

Spaw

Depends on where you are. There are a lot of local, county, state, school district, etc regulations that technically do apply to anyone "running a bus service" - in some places. There are a lot of places where there are no rules - for some people.

It can be quite difficult to determine what is - and is not - "legal." Common sense gets us through a lot of it.

The federal rules mainly regulate minimum equipment that a vehicle must have to be labeled/sold as a school bus. Rules on how the vehicle is operated, and how others must react to it, are largely state and local. Many local jurisdictions add quite a few equipment requirements that are not federal requirements.

Several states do have regulations that can technically define any vehicle as a "school bus" for purposes of limiting how, and by whom, it can be operated - and these rules may apply to, but are commonly ignored by, most people.

In some jurisdictions, you can technically be violating the law based simply on how many persons (and their relationship with the driver) are in the vehicle. Some have different rules for "for hire" and "casual" use - but if the scout troop pays for the gas it may make it a "for hire" use - in some localities.???

Most public school buses in the US do look pretty much the same. For smaller organizations, common sense and careful driving are the important things.

John

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 02:20 PM

True John and I wasn't arguing the point. Bus regulations are all over the board from state to state etc. What I am saying is that the minimums you refer to are pretty extensive (and also filled with ambiguous stipulations) as are other motor vehicles anymore for that matter. Local and State regulations that are additional are widely variable as you say (Most church buses are complete pieces of crap around here).

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: Jeri
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 02:44 PM

The differences between when I was a kid and now:
1) Automatic transmissons. They used to be entirely manual.
2) Seat belts mandatory for the driver. Supposedly, the padding on the seats where the kids sit is made to cushion any impact.
3) The swing out stop signs. Used to be just blinking red lights you had to stop for. I believe the driver turned on yellow caution lights when they were preparing to stop and the lights changed to red when the doors were opened.
4) Driver can't smoke on the bus anymore.

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 06:31 PM

Some states require seatbelts for the children.

BlueBird makes a "bomb-proof" bus.

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 08:08 PM

Ralph Stanley wrote a great song "No School Bus in Heaven"

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: JJ
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 10:51 AM

When I rode these buses (into the early 60s) we did not call them by a name which seems common today -- cheese buses.

When did this come into use?

JJ

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 11:49 AM

My daughter, a freshman in high school, is riding the bus for the first time ever this year. She resisted in the beginning, but has since found that it's a good social time with several of her neighborhood friends. I hope it stays that way, because we hear regularly of assaults on busses, resulting in cameras being placed in them in some school districts. A girl from south of Dallas, Texas was killed last week when someone drove past the bus that was letting her off--the idea with the mobile stop signs on the busses and the red lights is that children can safely cross the road or highway because people travelling both directions are supposed to stop. A couple of weeks ago an elderly bus driver in South Texas ran over one of his small riders who was late for the bus and hurrying to catch up with his brother who had just climbed aboard. It isn't a risk free opeation, as hard as people try to make it so.

I have tried several approaches to the bus stop, because I drop off my daughter then drive a few blocks further to drop off my son at his elementary school. It's a science getting them both to school safely (but the alternative of driving her to high school is a horrible one, probably less safe than the bus option, when one considers how many high school age drivers are near the high school every morning. At least in the bus she's in a heavier vehicle if one of those youthful drives makes a mistake).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: open mike
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 11:41 PM

there was a study once-i think it was in kansas--which determined that yellow was the most visible color--some fire engines, esp. Federal or FEMA or O.E.S. ones are a chartreuse color--some municipal fire agencies are going to this color too.
school busses are equiped with a bracket below the drive shaft
due to accidents which have happened where the drive shaft dropped
due to the "U" joint breaking, and then the entire bus being catapaulted by the shaft poking down into the ground and prying
up the vehicle..the bracket
holds the drive shaft off the ground even if it does break.
I have trained as a school bus driver and been a substitute
driver for the local school district. Each rule you see
governing busses is probably based on some injury or fatality.
lately there has been design changes implemented on handrails
because those little pull strings on kids jackets get stuck in the
handles and kids have been run over or dragged cuz their jacket strings were caught in the railings...yikes!!
busses here (in calif) do not have seat belst yet except for
the disabled students in the smaller busses.
the manufacturers are Gillig, Blue Bird, Thomas and many others.
Most I know of aree still manual shift--many 10 speeds, some
school districts use 5 speeds. we live in a hilly and mountainous area so the shifting is more important especially in winter weather.Laurel

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: Wincing Devil
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 12:03 AM

Here in Montgomery County, Maryland, the School buses are not just Bright International Orange, but they have a white strobe light on top. I've been stuck behind one in traffic and find it quite distracting. I feel that it detracts from safety rather than enhancing it.

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 12:40 AM

Try driving at night down a narrow, mountain road with trees closing in on both sides. You'll think that strobe is on the inside of the bus! It does insure that no one can say they didn't see the bus, though.

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: GUEST,Foe
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 11:33 AM

Go to www.hyattstownmill.org and click on inquiring minds. You'll see a photo of a school bus the Hyattstown Mill Arts Project will be using for various stuff. Photo was taken @ 1/3 of the way into the day of painting.

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 05:41 PM

How did this thread inspire Mark Cohen to go looking for words for a song about Sequim, Washington, then to stumble onto the Ballad of the Merry Ferry thread? That's what I'd like to know!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: mg
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 10:18 PM

they are hotbeds of abuse and bulleying and sexual harrassment....they really really need to be looked at..mg

Subject: RE: BS: US school buses?
From: Deda
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 10:27 PM

There was a very alarming news show on some TV news program today, or possibly yesterday, about bullying on school busses. (This is in the US.) One 5 or 6-year-old was pushed out of the rear emergency door by other kids and wasn't seen by the driver. He suffered nasty gashes on his head and has been out of school recovering for many weeks, and his mother is determined that he'll never ride a bus again. There was also film of school kids ganging up on and beating other kids on a bus -- and the fact that they were being filmed didn't seem to slow them down at all. It wasn't only one episode, there were a few different video clips. I'm glad my kids are past school bus age!