Why don’t people own buses? They are better than limos.

[SoBad]

Originally Posted by MAXXply

In the early 80's, the Trapper John character from M*A*S*H had his own spin-off show where he was a doctor who lived out of a Winnebago or something like that, in the hospital carpark. I thought that was pretty cool. Also Billy Batson, who would turn into superhero Captain Marvel (Shazam!), travelled aimlessly through (presumably) Southern California in a Winnebago also.

I'd be happy with a modern-day-but-still-clunky Brazilian built VW Kombi with all the gear (soon to stop production)

Thanks for the input - I googled "Winnebago" and I see some interesting designs. Still, I am adamant about exploring alternatives to the traditional water/sewerage/kitchen school of thought.

[SoBad]

Originally Posted by ninman

In the UK there are about 30 million cars on the road. We already have serious problems with congestion. Think about the logistics of having 30 million buses on the road.

I don't care about traffic congestion in the UK. I am only interested in my future bus and people's ideas about it.

[SoBad]

In the end, it’s all about the operational costs, isn’t it. Let’s talk about some of the ways to defray those costs, why don’t we. First thing that comes to mind is revenue from advertisement. The bus has all those surfaces on the outside with plenty of advertisement space. And you could also set up those electronic screens with running lines, programmed and priced in real time.

Or how about a second bus trailing the head bus, the second bus operating strictly as a profit centre? A double-decker. The ground deck leases out office space and the upper deck is an outdoor market that leases out stands to farmers, shashlyk-cookers, and people selling “I love NY” t-shirts. The merchants would climb a ladder down to the street and move the merchandise up and down using an efficient compact external cargo elevator.

[sureshs]

It is all about food trucks these days. They are popping up in cities everywhere. A bus can be used for that.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by SoBad

I have heard of party buses. U.S. is a large country with good roads, so it makes sense for an entertainer to tour on a bus. I guess when I said “people” what I really meant was “ordinary people” (who can afford to pay 60K or so for a bus up front and take care of the ongoing expenses).

60k for a bus? LOL, are you delusional? I have been on countless busses and the Prevost we had was $800,000. The gas cost, driver cost, maintenance, lack of parking in cities is far too much for anyone without a ton of money.

[zapvor]

Originally Posted by SoBad

Or do they? I am curious about the pros and cons of bus ownership. Obviously, one would probably need a commercial license and parking could be a challenge, but there is so much upside.

You can set up an office area in the front, with a desk, satellite internet, etc. Then you have a lounge area in the mid-section of the bus with sofas, TV, music, and a full bar. And in the back you have a bedroom. Separate the three sections with light curtains and you’re all set.

If you get stuck in traffic because of bad weather, you just pull over and work or relax. Call friends and invite them over. Is this a good idea? Discuss.

is the apt opening up? i will take it

[Mike Bulgakov]

I need a helicopter.

[Shaolin]

I need a jet pack.

[vive le beau jeu !]

Originally Posted by SoBad

Or do they? I am curious about the pros and cons of bus ownership. Obviously, one would probably need a commercial license and parking could be a challenge, but there is so much upside.

You can set up an office area in the front, with a desk, satellite internet, etc. Then you have a lounge area in the mid-section of the bus with sofas, TV, music, and a full bar. And in the back you have a bedroom. Separate the three sections with light curtains and you’re all set.

If you get stuck in traffic because of bad weather, you just pull over and work or relax. Call friends and invite them over. Is this a good idea? Discuss.

some do, apparently...




(they forgot the swimming pool on this one)



be careful with the tunnels...

[ninman]

If you're going to go hardcore, you've gotta go hardcore. What I want is one of these.

[scotus]

I just want a Nimbus.

Harry Potter style is okay, but the young Goku style is much preferred.

[Ronaldo]

Neighbor watched too many episodes of The Partridge Family, bought a school bus, converted it to an RV and traveled the country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOiKa51ll-k

[Hood_Man]

Originally Posted by ninman

If you're going to go hardcore, you've gotta go hardcore. What I want is one of these.

Going round a roundabout would be like playing Snake.

[LeeD]

Lack of mobility.
MelGibson lived in a bus, as did the old Maverick's guy who evolved into being a detective, both in N LA.
Small, cramped, messy, nothing real, all panelling and prefab.
I have had over 5 longbed vans in the last 30 years.

[SoBad]

Originally Posted by sureshs

It is all about food trucks these days. They are popping up in cities everywhere. A bus can be used for that.

Exactly - food sales from the upper deck of a trailing ancillary bus as a means of funding for the head bus is precisely the concept I was developing in post #23.

[SoBad]

Originally Posted by Power Player

60k for a bus? LOL, are you delusional? I have been on countless busses and the Prevost we had was $800,000. The gas cost, driver cost, maintenance, lack of parking in cities is far too much for anyone without a ton of money.

60K is the figure I overheard last Wednesday night from a city bus driver talking about the price of a city bus (the bus was stuck in the snow, so there was a lot of talking). These are potent hybrid buses with electricity and climate control. I reckon that retrofitting the basic bus with water/sewerage systems can be extremely expensive, which is why we are focusing here on a more basic urban model with bottled water at the mid-section bar and a hatch in the floor for emergencies.

[SoBad]

Originally Posted by zapvor

is the apt opening up? i will take it

To the extent that floor sleeping space is available, the apt is available on a limited first-come hoteling basis...

[SoBad]

Originally Posted by Mike Bulgakov

I need a helicopter.

Originally Posted by Shaolin

I need a jet pack.

I can see a helipad installed on top of one of the buses in the motorcade as long as there is healthy demand for mobile helipads out there in the marketplace.

[SoBad]

Originally Posted by vive le beau jeu !

some do, apparently...

be careful with the tunnels...

Thanks - those are some beautiful photos and engineering drawings. I wonder if we can add value to this rural concept and propel it into the current century by dropping the water/sewerage systems and making most of the advertisement space on the outer surfaces.

[SoBad]

Originally Posted by ninman

If you're going to go hardcore, you've gotta go hardcore. What I want is one of these.

Originally Posted by scotus

I just want a Nimbus.

Harry Potter style is okay, but the young Goku style is much preferred.

Why don't we keep our eyes on the ball and stay focused on promising urban designs here.