Everyone on the bus
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• A Scania K92 is at the heart of a new multi-purpose city bus, called 'The Bus for Everyone', which is intended to be easier for disabled passengers to use.
The Bus for Everyone project is being developed by Scania in conjunction with the Norwegian Department of Transport and disabled bus user interest groups. It is based on a single deck K92CL air-suspended chassis, with bodywork by Arna Bruk Karosserifabrikken of Bergen.
The 6m wheelbase K92CL is powered by a 180kW Scania DS-9 engine, coupled to an automatic gearbox with built-in retarder.
The Bus for Everyone features a number of relatively minor, modifications, to make it easier to use by disabled passengers. These include a wheelchair lift, extra wide steps with a maximum height of only 140nun, steps painted in contrasting colours, sturdier support rails (and more of them) and more, larger, stop signal buttons and cords to aid visually and physically disabled passengers.
The Scania K92's air suspension can also be deflated to allow the bus to kneel, offering a lower entry height.
A computerised system controls destination and route number signs.
Each stop is announced audibly and visually.
Scania reports that the relatively few, and inexpensive modifications allow the conventional single-decker to cater for a far wider number of passengers and better serve those disabled users who otherwise rely on special vehicles.