How Much Do You Know About the Bus?

Many Americans rely on buses every day for transportation, but few people really take the time to find out more about these vehicles. How much do you really know about buses? Test your knowledge with these fun facts:

• The word “bus” comes from the Latin word “omnibus,” which means “for all.” Over time, “omnibus” became shortened — although its original form seems to be more applicable for its purpose.
  

• Yellow school buses are widely recognized today, and it’s hard to imagine a time when they didn’t exist. But they actually aren’t very old at all; the first yellow school bus appeared in 1939.
  

• Charter bus services are becoming more popular around the world, and they are used to transport large groups of people on events like road trips and wine tours. Charter bus companies actually play a huge role in the tourism industry in the U.S., allowing travelers an affordable option to visit far-away locations.
  

• Government data shows that charter buses are some of the safest vehicles on the road today, and many people choose to travel on coach buses for longer trips because passengers don’t have to worry about driving for long periods of time, and they don’t have to worry about car maintenance.
  

• A growing number of charter bus companies are also taking green initiatives to make their buses more environmentally-friendly. These developments include things like researching and testing electric buses, and creating systems that run on compressed natural gas or bio-diesel.

If you’re planning a future trip and thinking about your travel options, make sure to keep charter buses in the back of your mind. Safe, affordable, convenient, fast, environmentally friendly — what more could you ask for?