Buses and Accessibility
Buses raise and lower to help passengers get on and off. Before the 1980s, wheelchairs could not use buses because of the stairs. Now buses kneel down or have lifts.
Kneeling lowers the front of the bus closer to the curb. This helps wheelchairs users and other passengers. Buses also have air suspension to raise and lower the bus body. When the bus stops, air is released to lower it. When driving, the suspension pumps the bus back up.
Traffic Safety and Regulations
School buses stop at railroad crossings to look and listen for trains. Snow or fog limits visibility so drivers open the door. That allows hearing approaching trains. Legally buses must stop 15-50 feet from the nearest rail.
When stopping, school buses turn on yellow lights as a warning. On multi-lane roads with medians, opposite traffic does not need to stop. Special bus lights raise awareness for causes. Purple lights highlight a type of cancer. Blue lights designate emergency and command vehicles.
Traction and Suspension Systems
Chains under buses increase traction in rain and snow. Tires slip easier with water/oil/mud. The chains directly grip the road through this mix.
Hydraulic suspensions in lowriders let them bounce high. They bypass laws against very low vehicles. Pumps and valves activated by the driver lift and drop the chassis. It became part of the culture.
In 1938, a bus in a Utah blizzard crashed into a train. The law then only required stopping, not opening the door to hear trains. Now buses must open doors at crossings as an extra precaution.
Bus Operations and Congestion Issues
Delays cause buses to bunch up on routes, frustrating passengers. Mathematics shows spacing breaks down. Solutions remain unclear.
Why do busses inflate and deflate?
Buses raise and lower to help passengers get on and off. Wheelchairs could not use buses before the 1980s because of the stairs. Now buses kneel down or have lifts to let wheelchairs use them.
Kneeling lowers the front of the bus closer to the curb. This helps wheelchairs users and other passengers get on and off. Buses have air suspension to raise and lower the bus body. Air is released to lower the bus when it stops. The suspension pumps the bus back up when driving.