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Is New Bus Operator's Association Needed ?

8th November 1946
Page 22
Page 22, 8th November 1946 — Is New Bus Operator's Association Needed ?
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

'THE bodyworks manager of Leyland Motors, Ltd., Mr. C. C. Bailey, M.I.Loco.E., M.I.P.E.. A.M.I.A.E., has written an article, "Wanted—An Association," dealing with conclusions he drew from a recent visit to the U.S.A. In this, he points out that the most effective' method of reducing the cost of British vehicles is for operators to standardize their specifications, so enabling the makers to adopt full-flow production methods.

Those running buses in the States are making a determined effort to combat private-car competition by convincing the public that it is less trouble to shop by bus (a) partly because parking problems are avoided, (b) bus travel in both hot and cold weather is more comfortable (one reason being that the vehicles over there are heated or air-conditioned), (c) bus-service frequency is sufficient to avoid undue waiting.

To back up this propaganda, operators are compelled to have modern designs embodying all the latest features; and they must limit the life cycle of buses to a period short enough to preserve their modernity to the end; a six-year life appears to meet this requirement.

The problem is partly solved automatically by strong competition amongst vehicle makers, but operators help through the American Transit Association, which sifts and standardizes the more desirable requirements and passes them on to the manufacturer.

Mr. Bailey asks why our own users cannot form a similar association. Actually, there are in existence in Britain three main bodies dealing with passenger transport—the Public Transport Association, the Municipal Passenger Transport Association, and the Passenger Vehicle Operators Association, the last forming a constituent body of the National Road Transport Federation. One or two, if not all, have Design Committees.

In our view, the object could be met by a panel formed from these three units. So far as the purely engineering side of operation is concerned. this comes within the scope of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers, which already includes a fair number of passenger-vehicle-operating engineers and is receiving a steady flow of applications from others in this field. The Vehicle User Panels, which this Institute has in process of formation, may include one concerning public-service vehicles and coaches.


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