So What Does Everyone Think of Tomorrow's Snow Storm? (Burke: dental, teachers)

[car54]

Originally Posted by mikecart1

I'm doing neither. But in reply to your info:

1. Since 1939, a lot has changed in the automotive world and advances to engineering would make these buses far more obsolete than most originally thought.

2. Students sitting on benches on the perimeter of the bus is similar to how modern metro systems are arranged. And for kids flying everywhere, this is exaggerated. Using recent data, less than 0.5% of all motor vehicle accidents involve school buses. And the majority of the fatalities were those in other vehicles. This is because the school bus frame is built with reinforced-steel while most cars are some type of fiber glass.

Additionally I am willing to bet bullying is far more than 0.5% nationwide. And much of this bullying is done on school buses. I've been there and I know. The current seat arrangement allows for who knows what to happen while the driver has no clue. Open the space up so all students are visible and bullying may be prevented more.

Also an open space allowed for easier maintenance, and cleaner bus, and less spreading of diseases. Most sick days are the result of the common cold and much of this is because people are coughing and spread mucus all over their bus rides to and from school.

3. As for windows, they are obsolete. It's as simple as that. You are an outlier if you maintain them like you say you do. Most don't do anything about them. And if they were also designed in 1939 as you say, they were probably designed like that to help kids climb out of a bus during an emergency.

However! The average size of a kid has increased a lot since 1939 and today's windows offers no escape route either.

Not fighting, just debating, constructively.

I don't think I said that school buses haven't changed since 1939. Just that many standards like seat dimensions, color, etc are the same. School buses are built on truck chassis, so they have all the automotive advancements that trucks have seen....anti-lock brakes, diesel engines (much safer fuel in an accident where the tank ruptures), terrific Allison automatic transmissions, air brakes, etc.

The school bus market is so unappealing that Ford, GM, and Chrysler all exited the school bus chassis business a decade or more ago. As did Mack and number of lesser truck manufacturers even earlier. Navistar/International makes their own chassis and Thomas uses a Freightliner chassis (because both are subsidiaries of Daimler/Benz).

I would think that perimeter seating would cut the seating capacity of a bus. Unlike modern metro systems, I don't think you'll ever see standees allowed on a school bus.

I consider the windows to be adequate. What other kind would they use? Fore and aft sliders like an old Greyhound bus? Heck, on a lot of modern motorcoaches/city buses, the windows don't even open. But they also have sophisticated HVAC systems that you'll never see in a school bus. For the price of one new Metrobus, you could buy 3-4 new school buses. To my knowledge, school bus windows were never designed as emergency exits (except a special type where the whole thing swings out).

Our buses have two large emergency doors, two of those special emergency windows, a rear emergency exit, two roof hatches, and two kick-out windshield sections.


Bottom line: You'll never see a super school bus. They are sold on price alone. If the super bus costs more, nobody will buy them. Of the two current contenders, Navistar has the biggest market share because they are cheaper than Thomas. As a result, they have to throw them together. While I believe Navistar(IC) buses are structurally sound...the fit and finish is appalling.

[Mike From NIU]

car54,

I thought Blue Bird buses were still around. Have they been bought out by Thomas or Navistar? I used to see Blue Bird buses all of the time (grew up in GA, and I think they are made there).

[car54]

Originally Posted by Mike From NIU

car54,

I thought Blue Bird buses were still around. Have they been bought out by Thomas or Navistar? I used to see Blue Bird buses all of the time (grew up in GA, and I think they are made there).

Last I heard, Blue Bird hasn't been buried yet, but is on life support. They've been in and out of bankruptcy several times and picked over by hedge funds.

Blue Bird made a very good bus, but they cost too much....I haven't seen a late model one in ages (except some Type As...the small ones with a van front end).

They are still made in Fort Valley, GA, but the Canadian plant is defunct.

[reebo]

Saw a snowplow sliding all over Braddock Road in Centreville . Perhaps a delay was in order, Fairfax

[sullyguy]

Originally Posted by reebo

Saw a snowplow sliding all over Braddock Road in Centreville . Perhaps a delay was in order, Fairfax

A decision has to be made quite a bit of time before the fact - in this case here in Centreville the snow didn't even start until well after the decision time (06:00-ish here in Sully Station).

Sometimes we just have to live with it.

Here's how FCPS has to make decisions and their timing.

[FCNova]

In hindsight, FCPS and the fed govt should've both delayed 2 hours. My commute on the beltway was a mess w/ accidents. But hindsight is 20/20. I can tell you I was FLOORED when I checked early a.m. and schools were on time. I knew the fed would be. They don't delay/close unless it's a blizzard. But schools on time with snow on the ground? What is the world coming to.

[reebo]

I understand when the decision has to be made. Given the forecast and track, I'm surprised there wasn't a delay, especially given how they've delayed for far less

[Erix]

Originally Posted by FCNova

But schools on time with snow on the ground? What is the world coming to.

I think it's because they've used all their available snow days. I commuted in with no problem. The roads are quite fine, it's just the people who panic at the mere sight of a snowflake (of whom there is an abundance in this area).

The only problem I have with delays is the crowd. Instead of people trickling in at 6:30 to 7:30 with a gradual increase to 10 AM, with a 2-hr delay EVERYONE comes in one large horde at 9:30 to 10 AM.

[FCNova]

Originally Posted by Erix

I think it's because they've used all their available snow days. I commuted in with no problem. The roads are quite fine, it's just the people who panic at the mere sight of a snowflake (of whom there is an abundance in this area).

The only problem I have with delays is the crowd. Instead of people trickling in at 6:30 to 7:30 with a gradual increase to 10 AM, with a 2-hr delay EVERYONE comes in one large horde at 9:30 to 10 AM.

Yeah I didn't expect a closing because of their lack of snow days, but I thought 2 hour delay for schools was a lock. I think 2 hour delay for everyone would have helped on a day like today because the road crews would've had more time to work before most people hit the roads. Part of the issue today was because of the early morning accidents the roads were jammed and the crews were having a hard time working on them.

[dkf747]

There was a 2 hour delay. It took us 2 hours to get to worry today.