Open Wide for the MTA Double-Decker Bus!

Ain't she a beaut? Making good on their promise last May, today New York City Transit officials unveiled their hotly-anticipated double-decker bus, the first municipal double-decker bus to cruise the streets since 1953. According to a press release, the 13-foot tall, high-capacity coach will run for the next 30 days along selected local and express bus routes in order to test its suitability for service.

Howard H. Roberts Jr., president of New York City Transit, told reporters at yesterday's press conference, “This is not just a show. It’s not a movement to titillate the public.” Too late Howie; color us titillated! Manufactured by Van Hool of Belgium, the D Squared has a 450 HP engine with clean air technology, runs on "ultra low sulfur diesel," and seats 81, with 59 on the upper level and 22 seats on the lower level. By way of comparison, the city's articulated buses can seat just 62 riders and cost about $900,000, while the double-decker comes with a $650,000 price tag.

The bus's low floor is designed to make it easier for seniors and customers with disabilities to board, while eliminating the need for a complicated wheelchair lift. Roberts stated that "one significant advantage is their ability to carry a large number of passengers but take up a smaller street footprint than an articulated bus.” The prototype will start out with test runs on the following routes: The BxM3 from Yonkers to Manhattan, the X17J between Staten Island and Manhattan, and the M15 limited on First and Second Avenues. According to City Room, it may also try the M5 along Fifth Avenue, if the tree pruning along the bus lane goes well.

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By John Del Signore in News on September 9, 2008 10:50 AM

Comments [rss]

BusTard

I usta take the M15 up Allen/1st from the ferry, and now I am stuck in LA-LA land.

I look forward to having a gander from the top deck when I return later this year. It imagine its kinda like having a drink upstairs the Water Street Deli, but going uptown at the same time.

Buck Owens

Manufactured by Van Hool of Belgium. How come GM, Ford or Chrysler cannot manufacture these type of vehicles? Maybe I should email the rustbelt and ask them.

NannyState

I heard Sarah palin began speaking in tongues the first time she saw a kneeling bus.

Jerky

>Along with every other on-road diesel vehicle in everywhere->but-Alaska for the last two years or so..

They probably means 'requires' that fuel. The new standard only

went into effect last year.

JMH

Weird, London is moving away from double-deckers in favor of articulated buses.

Alex

If we've got double decker buses, can we get double decker bus shelters too?

Pull My Finger

Why not double decker articulated buses.

peanut100

my bad, thought these buses were the more expensive ones!

snessnyc

About time. But this is not "the first municipal double-decker bus to cruise the streets since 1953" - when i moved to the city in '77 there was at least one route with double-deckers, I think the M1. It wasn't a huge success because the ceilings were too low inside (I'm 6'2" and had to walk stooped over), and the outside was too tall for some underpasses like the Columbia Univ plaza at Amsterdam & 115th. Maybe with the low deck these will solve those problems.

handsomedevil

I hate double-deckers, actually. I'm tall and kind of a claustrophobe, and don't look forward the the inconvenience of climbing in and out. BOOO!

peanut100

great! now they can raise our fares to pay for these buses!!!

Dude69

Great! M15 is my route! Nothing beats riding in the front seat of the upper deck! Only drawback is old people will be restricted to the lower deck.

smokedgouda

More passengers, costs less, in a tighter space...sounds like a good buy to me.

Spirit of 76

This is New York. We deserve the best! Forget double-deckers. Bring on the triple-deckers.

Get on board. Get on board. Get on board with the double deckers. Fun and laughter is what we're after on the double deckers New York bus.

zodak

why no love for articulated buses? you can't turn a double decker bus into a rolling dance party like you can with an articulated bus.

Ace

Fugothamist, I agree with you. The present bus fleet (especially the BX lines) are loud. I want to know what the noise level is as well. How loud is the bus when it idles? When it accelerates? Noise levels should be an important factor when deciding what buses to buy.

JacqueMehoff

I liked the input from a driver, he says the ride is not as bumpy as the other buses. I think he mentioned the MCI buses. someone is going to parlay this into some sightseeing party/venture.

woodendesigner

I can't wait to check one out. Sounds like a cool bus.

glennQNYC

Nice of them to provide wipers for the upper deck... :)

Jen Chung

That's pretty awesome--and sounds even better when compared to articulated buses.

LinkMan

Articulated buses cost $900k each? Wow.

On the double-deckers in London and Hong Kong I've been on, the driver has a mirror for seeing the upper deck. I imagine CCTV would work, too, though.

I'd love to see these on the M14 and M15 routes.

fugothamist

snd streetcars are much more desirable. people will use them much more than buses, which have a reputation for being "poor people" transportation

Alex

This bus looks awesome. I'm excited about trying it out when it runs as an M15. It's great that it's cheaper too. What happened to those Benz buses they were testing earlier in the year? Also, who cares if it's not an American company? Our money should go to whichever company that offers the best transit options.

kissel

they should dig up the old street car tracks and use them... much cheaper to maintain electric street cars over the long run, it's cleaner and it might even be easier to keep a track clear than a painted bus lane. it's a shame we got rid of them back in the day.

fugothamist

how LOUD is it

lanciano

WONDERBAR!!

these are so much more sensible than those ridiculous bus snakes they have in manhattan. who on earth thought it would be a good idea to make buses twice as long. what a mess these are.

this is NYC. we're all about building UPwards. this makes sense for the bus too.

colonelcasey

There should be a CCTV system allowing the driver to look at the upper deck. Seems like this might work but only on certain routes since many New Yorkers don't really respect public transportation. Lots of trouble might occur on those upper decks.

Outter Burrougher

might just have to make a special trip to take one; I love double deckers!

ed_Extinct

If the United States wants to play a part in energy efficiency game, it's time we step to the plate, otherwise, if we can't produce it then I welcome the international communities who can.

250K cheaper... WHOO HOO!