Minibus gains
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• Lower wages and more flexible working gained by minibuses could spread to the rest of the bus industry, BCC delegates heard last week. Financial results with minibuses depended more on hourly wages costs than on vehicle lifespan, unit maintenance costs or unit capital costs.
Peter White and Roy Turner of Central London Polytechnic and Paul Watts of the Transport and Road Research Laboratory said that minibuses could be introduced selectively with success. Where low fare and high loadings could continue, however, bigger vehicles could still score.
Some of the experience gained with minibuses in marketing and recruitment could be applied to the industry as a whole. Driver recruitment methods also contributed to the "friendlier atmosphere" of minibuses.
A more frequent service made any fare seem better value for money. Hail-and-ride was a distinctive minibus advantage.
Minibuses' higher average speed reduced trip times by 10 to 20%; combined with lower wage rates this would reduce driver costs per vehicle kilometre by 30 to 40%.
The capital cost of i1.000 per passenger seat was similar to full-size buses: the disadvantage of the shorter minibus life might be reduced if discounted cash flow appraisals were made.