New Double Decker MTA Bus Wows Riders

The MTA's new double decker bus prototype made its maiden voyage this morning, and the Daily News was on board to get the awe-inspired reactions from riders. Staten Island's Chris Maffeo doesn't seem to get out much: "This is unbelievable. Wow—look at the people down there. They look so far away." And 38-year-old Laura Liamero practically swooned: "This seat is first class—front row—the orchestra seat!" One drawback, though, is the cramped second deck, which is only 5'7" from floor to ceiling. Says 6'2" Matthew Wagner, "I feel like a freakin' midget, but with this view up here it's definitely worth the hunched over walk." And get a load of this feature: Since the bus is too tall for the Lincoln Tunnel's 13-foot height limit, it uses GPS technology to recognize when it approaches the tunnel, at which point an air valve is automatically activated to lower the bus two inches! Your move, Gray Line.

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By John Del Signore in News on September 11, 2008 4:24 PM

Comments [rss]

MrCow

i'm swooning over this bus

glennQNYC

5' 7" ceiling? I can see the lawsuits now...

aydiosmio

#7

It's a bus. Anyone who scoffs at an improvement in public transit is in need of a serious "reawakening."

aspiringrapper

It's a bus. Anyone who swoons over a bus is in need of a serious reawakening.

Matvey

Low rider drives a little slower...

Future Taliban

Oh and it's got LOTS of wheels too!.

Now everybody PLEASE go back home to Oklahoma.

Colochita

Why would hunching over to walk under a ceiling that’s five inches shorter than your height make you feel like a [little person]? Shouldn’t he feel like a giant? Makes no sense.

nicemarmot

Haha, I can't wait till the sensor doesn't work and the bus goes flying into the tunnel at full speed. Although the possibility of head injuries to everyone on the top seems less funny.

las2381

How long before that GPS sensor breaks and we have an MTA bus causing a major traffic jam?? I can't wait. Great idea though. It is about time that the city has these types of buses.