A jumbo bus market
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What a coup it would be for the British motor industry if one or both of the UK contenders secured a substantial part of the unprecedented 100,000-bus contract for which the US Urban Mass Transportation Administration is inviting tenders. What a vindication, too, for the protagonists of public transport in Britain, where the warning signs of cities being swamped by cars are being heeded, and where Government has begun to give real support to the bus in time to stave off the collapse of urban as well as rural services.
America is now doing a great about-face in passenger transport: urged along by an environment-conscious and public transport minded Department of Transportation. US state and city administrations are rushing to pour millions of dollars into mass transport systems in an attempt to preserve city centres and stem the automobile tide. Britain's psv manufacturers have a tremendous fund of expertise to offer in tendering for the vast £2500m .bus order by UMTA, which wants a standard bus. The order would represent at least a 12-fold increase in America's annual urban-bus requirement.
Transport business on this scale has, not surprisingly, attracted the active attention of the US aircraft industry as well as the vehicle makers. British success even partial — against such competition could result in a flood of export work which would bring not only the obvious benefits but would also be reflected in a more highly developed product and keener pricing on the home market. The Urban Mass Transportation Unit has the job of persuading American cities to love and cherish the bus. The British manufacturers have the job of persuading UMTA that they have the right tool for that job.