Review: Double Decker Buses for San Francisco’s Hilly Streets

For the final month, San Francisco’s Muni has been trying out double decker buses built by Alexander Dennis Ltd., the same company that made London’s and Hong Kong’s buses. The only difference amidst bus tested in San Francisco and those in London was that the bus drove on the right hand side of the road. Here’s a quick review chart of my experience on the double decker experiment bus on the 1BX California Express route.
Benefits:

- More seats than any other buses run by Muni, 83 in total. Takes less room than an articulated bus.

- Pleasant environment: cloth seats, large windows, well lighted interiors, nice views.

- Low floor: no steps needed to get onto the bus, meaning less day needed to board the bus.

- Air conditioning and heating.

- Stairs were similar to London’s buses and relatively easy to climb up.

- Handicap accessible on the first story.

- Acceleration was not a major problem. The bus was able to preserve adequate speed when

climbing up some of San Francisco’s hills.

- Height barely clears the overhead wires of train and trolleybus lines.

- Happy riders: everyone onboard was smiling and thrilled to be onboard a London-style bus.

- May attract riders due to the pleasant ambiance of the top deck.

Disadvantages:

- Potentially could cause delays whether passengers do not descend to the first floor before arriving at their stop.

- Trees could smash into the top story.

- shield on the top floor is monitored only by cameras, therefore crime on the top floor could potentially happen without the driver noticing.

- Windows cannot open, which may pose problems on notoriously smelly lines.

- Bumpy on the top floor, but typical for a double decker bus.

- Liability issues whether citizens fall down the stairs. This is America…

More photos:

Original post by Alexander Lew