Minibus: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Distinguish|Minivan|Midibus}} {{Short description|Passenger-carrying motor vehicle (12-3012–30 seats)}}

{{Redirect|Microbus|the VW Microbus|Volkswagen Type 2}}

{{Distinguish|midibus}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}

{{more citations needed|date=February 2023}}

[[File:WP9187 New Territories 806A 03-03-2020.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Toyota Coaster]] LPG green public minibus in [[Hong Kong]]]]

[[File:Jumper Distribus (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[CitroenCitroën Jumper]] minibus in [[France]]]]

[[File:Minibus ZET Zagreb.jpg|thumb|Cacciamali Urby (built on [[Iveco Daily]] chassis) operating in [[Zagreb]], [[Croatia]]]]

[[File:New Suzuki Carry angkot karoseri Panca Tunggal.jpg|thumb|Minibus vehiclesvehicle from [[Suzuki Carry|Suzuki carry]] which are used as [[Public transport|public transportation]] in [[Indonesia]] which is called as "Angkot".]]

A '''minibus''', '''microbus''', '''minicoach''', or '''commuterminicoach''' (in [[Zimbabwe]]) is a passenger-carrying [[motor vehicle]] that is designed to carry more people than a [[minivan|multi-purpose vehicle or minivan]], but fewer people than a [[bus|full-size bus]]. In the [[United Kingdom]], the word "minibus" is used to describe any full-sized passenger-carrying [[van]] or [[panel truck]]. Minibuses have a [[seating capacity]] of between 12 and 30 seats. Larger minibuses may be called [[midibus]]es. Minibuses are typically front engine step-in vehicles, although [[low floor]] minibuses are particularly common in Japan.

==History==

It is unknown when the first minibus vehicle was developed. For example, [[Ford Model T]] vehicles were modified for passenger transport by early bus companies and entrepreneurs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Negyesi |first1=Pal |title=The Role of the Ford Model T As a Bus in Central and Eastern Europe |url= https://ceautoclassic.eu/the-role-of-the-ford-model-t-as-a-bus-in-central-and-eastern-europe/ |work=CEAutoClassic |date=4 May 2020 |access-date=17 February 2023}}</ref> Ford produced a version during the 1920s to carry up to 12 people.<ref>{{cite web |title=Henry the Model T Bus |url= https://www.highfieldspioneervillage.com.au/henry-the-model-t-bus |website=highfieldspioneervillage.com.au |access-date=17 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=1926 Ford Model TT 10 Seater Country Bus Chassis no. 14390021 Engine no. 14390021 |url=https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/10533/lot/205/ |website=bonhams.com |access-date=17 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Car Ford Model T Station Bus 1919 for sale - PreWarCar |url= https://www.prewarcar.com/453449-1919-ford-model-t-station-bus |website=prewarcar.comPreWarCar |access-date=17 February 2023}}</ref> In the [[Soviet Union]], the production of minibuses began in the mid-1950s, among the first mass-produced minibuses were the RAF-10, [[UAZ]]-451B, and Start.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dashko |first=Dmitry |title=Юность. Автобус для избранных |publisher=ООО "ИПК Парето-Принт" |year=2013 |pages=19–21 |language=ru |trans-title=Youth. A bus for the elite}}</ref> Since September 1961, the RAF-977D "Latvia" minibus began to be mass-produced.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Хроника: любимый «рафик» |url=https://www.zr.ru/content/news/353880-hronika_lubimyj_rafik/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=zr.ru |language=ru}}</ref>

==Usage==

Minibuses are used for a variety of reasons. In a [[public transport]] role, they can be used as fixed route [[transit bus]]es, [[airport bus]]es, flexible [[demand responsive transport]] vehicles, [[share taxis]] or large [[taxicab]]s. Accessible minibuses can also be used for [[paratransit]] type services, by local authorities, transit operators, hospitals or charities. Private uses of minibuses can include [[VIP|corporate]] transport, charter buses, [[tour bus]]es. Schools, sports clubs, community groups and charities may also use minibuses for private transport. Individual owners may use reduced seating minibuses as cheap [[recreational vehicles]].

==Types==

By size, microbuses are minibuses smaller than {{convert|8|m|ftin|0|lk=on}} long. [[Midibus]]es are minibuses bigger than microbuses but smaller than [[bus|full-size buses]].

There are many different types and configurations of minibuses, due to historical and local differences, and usage. Minibus designs can be classified in three main groups, with a general increase in seating capacity with each type:

*Van conversions. Simple, optional extras

*Body builds

*Purpose-built

===Van conversions===

[[File:Bloody Bridge car park, May 2010 (06).JPG|thumb|[[Ford Transit]] minibus in [[County Down]], [[Northern Ireland]]]]

[[File:Mercedes sprinter 1 v sst.jpg|thumb|[[Mercedes-Benz Sprinter]] minibus in [[Germany]]]]

[[File:AO52 LJF (4).JPG|thumb|[[Plaxton Beaver 2]] bodied [[Mercedes-Benz Vario]] in [[Norwich]], UK]]

The most basic source of minibuses is the van conversion, where the minibus is derived by modifying the existing [[van]] design. Conversions may be produced completely by the van manufacturer, sold as part of their standard model line-up, or be produced by specialist conversion companies, who source a suitably prepared base model from the van manufacturer for final completion as a minibus.

Van conversions involve adding windows to the bodywork, and seating to the cargo area. Van conversion minibuses outwardly look the same shape as the parent van, and the driver and front passenger cabin remains unchanged, retaining the driver and passenger doors. Access to the former cargo area for passengers is through the standard van side sliding door, or the rear doors. These may be fitted with step equipment to make boarding easier. Optional extras to van converted minibuses can include the addition of a [[rollsign]] for transit work, and/or a full-height walk-in door, for passenger access to the former cargo area. For public transport use, this door may be an automatic [[concertina]] type. For other uses, this may be a simple plug style coach door. Depending on the relevant legislation, conversions may also involve wheelchair lifts and [[tachograph]] equipment. A van conversion with a passenger area in the front and a storage area in the back, behind a fixed bulkhead, is called a [[Splitter Tour Bus|splitter bus]].

Examples of vans used for these conversion minibuses are:

*[[Fiat Ducato]]

*[[Ford Transit]]

*[[Freight Rover Sherpa]]

*[[GAZelle]]

*[[Hyundai H350]]

*[[Iveco Daily]]

*[[Mercedes-Benz Sprinter]]

*[[Renault Master]]

*[[Toyota Hiace]]

*[[Volkswagen Crafter]]

*[[Tata Winger]]

===Body builds===

[[File:Blue Bird Micro Bird MB-II by Girardin.jpg|thumb|North American School minibus based on a Chevrolet Express van chassis. Body is a [[Blue Bird Micro Bird|Blue Bird Micro Bird MB-II by Girardin]]]]

Another method of building a minibus is for a [[second stage manufacturer]] to build a specific body for fitting to a semi-completed van or light truck chassis. These allow a higher seating capacity than a simple van conversion. Often, the second stage manufacturer is a [[bus manufacturing|bus manufacturer]].

In a body-on-chassis minibus, a cabin body is installed on a van or light truck [[chassis]] encompassing the drivers area. These designs may retain some outward signs of the original van, such as the [[hood (vehicle)|hood]] and [[Grille (car)|grill]]. Other designs are visually a complete bus design, and it is merely the chassis underneath that is from the van design.

The body-on-chassis approach gives the advantage of higher seating capacity, or more room for passenger comfort, through a larger cabin area. There is also the advantage of being able to have the drivers seat positioned in a small cubicle, next to the main passenger entrance, allowing the driver to collect fares in a transit bus role.

Examples of body built minibuses are:

*[[Busette]] (cut away chassis)

*[[Optare CityPacer]] (visually complete bus based on a van chassis)

*[[Plaxton Beaver]] (built on the Mercedes-Benz T2 and later the Vario chassis)

Examples of vehicles used for this type of minibuses are:

*[[Ford Transit]]

*[[Freight Rover]]

*[[Iveco Daily]]

*[[Isuzu Elf]] locally built as the NQR bus

===Purpose built===

[[Image:ChichitetsuKankoBus 201.JPG|thumb|[[Nissan Civilian]] purpose built minibus]]

A next generation approach to the van-derived or [[Cutaway van chassis|cutaway chassis]] approach, is for manufacturers to produce an integral design, where the whole vehicle is purposely designed and built for use as a minibus. This is usually done by an integral [[bus manufacturing|bus manufacturer]], although large automotive groups also produce their own models. These designs are often available in long high capacity versions, and may attract different designations, such as [[midibus]], or light bus.

Examples of purpose built minibuses are:

*[[Hino Liesse]]

*[[Isuzu Journey]]

*[[MCW Metrorider]] (also termed a [[midibus]])

*[[Nissan Diesel RN]]

*[[Nissan Civilian]]

*[[Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa]]

*[[Toyota Coaster]]

*[[Karsan J9 Premier]] (Similar-looking ancestor [[Peugeot J9]] is a van conversion)

*[[Karsan J10]]

*[[Hyundai County]]

*[[Daewoo Lestar]]

*Renault Dodge S56

==Low floor minibuses==

[[Image:ADG-HX6JHAE-Kanachu-Chi110-Eboshi.jpg|thumb|[[Hino Poncho]] rear-engined low-floor minibus]]

Following the development of [[low-floor]] technology, some low-floor purpose built minibuses have been created. Some offer a low floor access through a centre door. Some short versions of low floor midibuses are sometimes also called minibuses.

*[[Orion International]] "[[Orion II]]"

*[[Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Midi|Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Midi ME]]

*[[Optare Solo]] (termed a midibus)

*[[Optare Alero]]

*[[Hino Poncho]] (1st generation [[Front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout|front-engined]], 2nd [[rear-engine design|rear-engined]])

*[[Nissan Diesel RN]] (some models have a low floor middle entrance)

*[[Bluebird Tucana]] (full length low flat floor from Bluebird Vehicles Ltd)

*Bluebird Auriga (tri-axle design)

*[[Mercedes-Benz Sprinter]]

*[[Karsan Jest]]

*Mellor Sigma 7

==Regional variants==

{{See also|share taxi}}<!-- which some services are actually operating like minibus-->

There are many different form of public transportation services around the world that are provided by using vehicles that can be considered as minibus:

*[[Kuala Lumpur Mini-Bus Service|Bas Mini]] in Malaysia

*[[Chiva bus]] in Colombia and Ecuador

*[[Colectivo]] in southern South America

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*[[Dala dala]] in Tanzania

*[[Dollar van]] a.k.a. jitneys, in the United States.

*{{lang|tr|[[Dolmuş]]}} in Turkey

*Modern [[Jeepney]] in the Philippines

*Maeul-bus (Korean 마을버스) in South Korea

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A driving licence issued in [[Ontario]], Canada, for an equivalent of a [[Uk driving license|UK class B or class B-auto driving licence (in the case of Ontario, a class G licence)]], allows its holder to drive vehicles with:

*[http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/classes.shtml 11 tonnes maximum authorized mass, including trailers with 4.6 tonnes MAM] ([<ref>http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/recreational-vehicles/frequently-asked-questions.shtml {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> 6 tonnes MAM in certain cases])

*passenger seating capacity of [https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003448/http://www.drivetest.ca/EN/licencing/Pages/Licencing-Requirements.aspx 9 or less]

Anyone wanting to drive a vehicle in Ontario, with the same MAM limits as for class G vehicles, with fewer than 25, but at least 10, passenger seats, must obtain a bus licence. This licence will allow, for example, its holder to drive [<ref>http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/tp-tp2436-rs200808-menu-202.htm {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> 12- and 15-passenger vans] that [[Transport Canada]] defines as large passenger vans.

==Gallery==

<gallery mode ="packed" heights="130px">

File:Samba(1).jpg|[[Volkswagen Type 2]] "microbus"

File:GAZel-Marshrutka of Piteravto in TosnoГазелька.jpg|Russian [[GAZelle|GAZelle City]] partially low floor [[marshrutka]] with sliding access doors

File:Bee-Line Coach Equipment 317.jpg|A [[Ford E450]] cutaway chassis design, with more integrated bodywork

File:GE-RZH125B-Kanachu-a13-Yumebus.jpg|Step equipped van on a converted [[Toyota HiAce]] minibus

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File:Mercedes Benz minibus.jpg|[[Mercedes Benz Sprinter]] minibus in [[Zihuatanejo]]

File:Buses 4U SN08 EJL.JPG|A [[Volkswagen Crafter]] minibus

File:Thanyaburi Transport 381.jpg|[[Nissan Civilian]] minibus in [[Pathum Thani province|Pathumthani]], [[Thailand]] (Thanyaburi Transport CO.,LTD.)

File:AMT Iveco 316 (4794) - Genoa.jpg|[[Iveco 316]] minibus in [[Genoa]], [[Italy]]

File:Thep U-Thong Khonsong 338.jpg|[[Toyota Coaster (B50)|Toyota Coaster B50]] in [[Pathum Thani province|Pathumthani]], [[Thailand]] (Thep U-Thong Khonsong CO.,LTD)

File:HigerMinibus KLQ6608GCČSAD 374Polkost 374K3-11632, zprava.jpg|[[HigerMercedes-Benz Bus|HigerVario]] KLQ6608GCminibus in [[PathumKostelec Thaninad province|PathumthaniČernými lesy]], [[ThailandCzech Republic]] (Kittisoontorn CO.,LTD.)

File:Malabon Jeepney Transport Service Cooperative 09.jpg|[[Isuzu Elf|Isuzu QKR]] Modern Jeepney in [[Manila]], [[Philippines]], with [[Almazora Motors|Almazora]] bodywork.

</gallery>