Redesigning the Bus: Innovations for Safety and Efficiency

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This chapter explores the outdated technology and design flaws in buses in the US, highlighting the negative consequences such as poor ride quality and accidents. It discusses efforts to redesign the bus of the future, focusing on two tracks: battery electric and addressing operational problems. The chapter delves into various design solutions for improving safety and visibility, including energy mitigated bumpers, pedestrian protection airbags, and functional security barriers.

Buses are an inexpensive and easy-to-deploy form of mass transit that could help reduce traffic congestion and curb air pollution. But in the United States, no one wants to ride them—and for good reason: the design of the American bus has not changed much since World War II. The antiquated design is uncomfortable and creates hazards for riders, drivers, and pedestrians. How could the bus be transformed into a mode of transit that people actually want to use?

On this episode, host Lisa Margonelli talks to Brian Sherlock, a former Seattle bus driver and safety specialist at Amalgamated Transit Union International, the largest public transit union in North America. He explains what’s wrong with American buses, and how a redesign could make for a better urban future.

Resources:

COVID-19 Revealed an Invisible Hazard on American Buses by Brian Sherlock