Buses are among the most common and widely used forms of public travel in the United States today, and chartering a bus is a popular option for anyone from tourists to traveling business professionals. Countless bus facilities may be found across the nation today, and these bus terminals or a facility are owned by various small bus companies. Although these companies tend to be small and have modest fleets, their vehicles may be comfortable, fuel efficient, and practical for nearly any passenger who visits a facility such as these. A good bus facility will have room for luggage and a ticket sales counter, among other features. At a bus facility, a passenger may soon board a large and comfortable city bus or motorcoach, and these vehicles may have many features on board.
On Buses
The concept of buses dates back to England in the 1820s, when horse drawn bus carriages were used at the time. Just a decade later, in the 1830s, England was home to stream powered bus vehicles that could transport passengers across the UK. By the modern age, buses represent an efficient and comfortable means of public transit, and this is a large industry to consider. In the United States in particular, motorcoaches account for an impressive total of 751 million passenger trips taken per year, and they sometimes move more passengers than commercial airlines do. The American Bus Association has determined that this industry is growing in the 2010s, and from 2011 to 2012, the industry grew 7.5%. In total, one may find 3,400 bus and motorcoach companies across the United States, with a total fleet of nearly 33,400 motorcoaches, city buses, airport shuttles, and more.
Buses are popular partly due to their ease of use and how they navigate traffic. A single bus may hold as many as 55 passengers, which in turn removes that many cars from the road and their associated emissions and room on the road. This can help ease traffic congestion and lower emissions, and buses are known for their fuel efficiency. Many cities today have “go green” initiative which call for lowered emissions of many kinds, and buses can do their part to contribute. On board, a bus may offer many comforts and amenities for passengers ranging from cushioned seats to ample luggage storage to a bathroom and even WiFi. For longer trips, some buses have electronic screens overhead or on the backs of seats for entertainment, and many buss also have heating and air conditioning on board.
Who Takes Buses
Bus passengers vary as much as the vehicles themselves do. For example, an airport may have its own small fleet of miniature buses, commonly known as airport shuttles. These are convenient for airline passengers, since it is usually impractical for an airport guest to drive themselves to the airport and leave their car there for weeks. Instead, once a passenger has booked their flights, he or she may look up shuttles at the airport’s website and request shuttle pick up and drop off. The passenger may board the shuttle bus once it arrives at their residence (with their luggage too) and get convenient transport to the airport. The same may be done when the passenger’s flight lands and they need transport back to their residence.
Buses may also be used by facilities such as a house of worship or a preschool, and these establishments will have one or two small buses on hand for clients. Houses of worship often have many elderly attendees who are not able to drive themselves easily, so instead, they will board a small bus that is exclusive to their house of worship. A person’s local church, synagogue, or mosque may have such a vehicle and send them to interested patrons’ residences.
Tourists also make good use of these buses, and some local economies rely heavily on tourism for their income. A single bus may deliver 50-60 tourists, who will inject money into the local economy when they spend money on lodging, food, amenities, shopping, and more. Tourists do not typically bring their own transport, so tourist groups will instead make use of buses. These buses, therefore, act as an excellent investment for a tourist based community, easily paying for themselves with tourist transport.