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.T.N, no other sphere of - 1 -Andastry has More re rearkable
Page 91
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progress taken place than in that concerned with the transport of passengers by road, and nothing else has conferred ,greater benefits or exercised a more ameliorating influence upon the corianunity as a whole. At one 'time it used, to be said that civilization followed the railway; now, it may be said to follow the coach and bus, particularly the latter. Country dwellers who at one time were practically isolated from communication with important towns are now enabled to obtain ready access to them, in most cases by vehicles running at frequent intervals. This alone is proving an inestimable advantage, and is not only checking the influx of dwellers into the congested areas, but is actually permitting city workers to live in health-conducing enviroaments away from -the turmoil: and the grimeladen atmosphere.
That the public appreciates road transport is proved by its ready patronage of new services and its continually increasing use of those already established.
The Strong Position of Road Transport.
We are convinced that no matter what opposition the organizers of road transport may have to face now or in the future, it is a business which must continue its advancement—in fact.' it is difficultto imagine the chaotic conditions which would obtain if any serious restriction were to be put into effect. We believe that any Government which endeavoured to hamper the progress of the passenger vehicle would not long survive the storm of indignation which would at oncebe engendered. "Hands off road transport" might well be adopted as an election cry if such circumstances ever arise.
At this point it might be as well briefly to review certain major facts concerning the passenger section of commercial road transport and what it represents to Great Britain in vehicles and money. There are approximately 22,000 buses, 24,000 coaches and 50,000 cabs. Of the buses, some 12,000 are owned by 36 companies, the rest being operated by 180 concerns with more than five vehicles but less than 12, 160 owners with anything from two to five vehicles, and an unknown but 'important numberof single-vehicle proprietors. The capital value of the municipal bus fleets-is Some 44,500,000, whilst those owned by comPanies, exceed the colossal sum of .417,000,000. .
That the industry -is groWingrapidly is proved by the fact that during a period Of nine . . , months ia the past year 110 companies were registered for the purpose of running bits and coach businesses.
improvements in Passenger-vehicle Design.
Quite apart from the question of the number of vehicles on the road, very considerable progress has been made, and is being made, in the vehicles themselves, both as regards their chassis and bodies. Hundreds, possibly thou'sands, Of old types have recently been replaced by modern' models, mostly mounted on pneumatic tyres, capable of running at much higher speeds and giving a standard of comfort to the occupants whichis comparable with that afforded by the private car.
The safety aspect has not been neglected ; in fact, if anything, it has received equal consideration. Braking layouts have been simplified and rendered more efficient, servo devices giving the driver a greater degree of control are being utilized on almost all the larger types, and the centres of gravity have been so reduced that the dangers of rolling and overturning have become almost negligible.
There have been some interesting developments in the types and employment of passenger vehicles during recent months. Perhaps the most outstanding of these is the sleepercoach, which type of vehicle, although not yet put into service in large numbers, undoubtedly possesses important potentialities which even the provision of third-class sleeping accommodation on the railways does not seem likely to reduce in value, for the reason that the toad vehicle affords first-class comfort at something under third-class fares. This question of comfort is really one of the outstanding features of modern travel by road, and it is Partly on this account that the .long-distance coach has become so 'popularamongst such a large secticn of the travelling public.