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'WHEN DOES A CAR BECOME A BUS?'

 
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Mr. Linsky
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 5071
Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.

PostPosted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 4:16 pm    Post subject: 'WHEN DOES A CAR BECOME A BUS?' Reply with quote

The question is; when does a car officially become a bus? the answer is; when it can carry fifteen people! In fact many states including New York dictate that any vehicle carrying more than nine passenger is a bus.

In a late thirties photo taken in front of a Chrysler-Plymouth dealership at Twin Falls, Idaho we see just such a vehicle in the form of a 1936 Chrysler Model C-1 Airflow design stretched by Armbruster & Company (later known as Armbruster/Stageway) of Fort Smith Arkansas.

The operator is unknown but a list of cities served appearing under the passenger windows reads Twin Falls, Wells, Reno, Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles and the header or destination sign over the windshield echos Twin Falls.

The concept of stretched passenger cars as buses was nothing new and in fact was the backbone of over the road transportation from the beginning of the teens.

The Chrysler Airflow's aerodynamic design, a striking departure from convention in the era, was introduced in 1934 but public interest was not enamored by its radical styling and did not buy the car in large numbers which led to its demise in 1937.

The failure of the Airflow concept in the marketplace led Chrysler to be overly conservative in their styling for the next 20 years (an understatement to say the least!).

Our focus must have just arrived at Twin Falls with its roof top luggage rack yet to be unloaded.

Of note are the five doors on the curb side with each leading to a three seat bench and only an unseen front and rear door on the driver's side.

Photo courtesy of 'outwestphotos' and is available at eBay as item # 360685732056.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

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Hart Bus



Age: 73
Joined: 24 Apr 2007
Posts: 1150

PostPosted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 5:07 pm    Post subject: Re: 'WHEN DOES A CAR BECOME A BUS?' Reply with quote

Mr. Linsky wrote:
The question is; when does a car officially become a bus? the answer is; when it can carry fifteen people! In fact many states including New York dictate that any vehicle carrying more than nine passenger is a bus.


Is that still the law in NY, with all of the stretch and super-stretch limos running around all over the place here in NY?
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Mr. Linsky
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 5071
Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.

PostPosted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 1:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ECA,

That's a good question to which I have no answer for what the rules may be today in New York.

The nine passenger bit of years ago separated 'station wagons', which as you may remember, carried 'Suburban' plates and had seating for more than five but less than ten.

Any vehicle in revenue service with ten or more seats was required to have 'BUS' plates unless that vehicle was in private use in which event it could carry passenger car tags no matter how many seats.

As far as New York 'City' registered stretch limos go, I would imagine that they would have to have either 'T&LC (Taxi & Limousine Commission) plates or optional 'Z' tags.

I've been away from New York regulation for many years and my latest New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law handbook is from the sixties so most of the above is speculation.

Many regards for the season,

WCA
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