A minibus, microbus, minicoach, or commuter (in
Zimbabwe) is a passenger-carrying
motor vehicle that is designed to carry more people than a
multi-purpose vehicle or minivan, but fewer people than a
full-size bus. In the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...
, the word "minibus" is used to describe any full-sized passenger-carrying
van
A van is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods or people. Depending on the type of van, it can be bigger or smaller than a pickup truck and SUV, and bigger than a common car. There is some varying in the scope of the word across th ...
or
panel truck
A panel truck (also called a panel delivery or pickup truck-based van) in U.S. and Canadian usage is a small delivery truck with a fully enclosed body. It typically is high and has no rear windows in the rear cargo area. The term was first use ...
. Minibuses have a
seating capacity
Seating capacity is the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, in terms of both the physical space available, and limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile tha ...
of between 12 and 30 seats. Larger minibusses may be called
midibuses. Minibuses are typically front engine step in vehicles, although
low floor
Accessibility is the design of products, devices, services, vehicles, or environments so as to be usable by people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design and practice of accessible development ensures both "direct access" (i. ...
minibuses do exist and are particularly common in Japan.
Minibuses may range in price from £2000 to nearly £100,000.
History
It is unknown when the first minibus vehicle was released but it is possible that the first one was the 1935-1955
Chevrolet Suburban
The Chevrolet Suburban is a series of automobiles built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. The name started in 1934 for the 1935 U.S. model year, making it the longest continuously used automobile nameplate in production. It has trad ...
or the
Volkswagen Transporter, even though the Suburban is thought by most to be an
SUV, the first generation to the third generation could have theoretically be classified as minibusses today.
Usage
Minibuses are used for a variety of reasons. In a
public transport
Public transport (also known as public transportation, public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport, typi ...
role, they can be used as fixed route
transit buses,
airport buses, flexible
demand responsive transport
Demand-responsive transport (DRT), also known as demand-responsive transit, demand-responsive service,
US National Trans ...
vehicles,
share taxis
Share may refer to:
* Share, to make joint use of a resource (such as food, money, or space); see Sharing
* Share (finance), a stock or other financial security (such as a mutual fund)
* Share, Kwara, a town and LGA in Kwara State, Nigeria
Share ...
or large
taxicab
A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choi ...
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
corporate transport, charter buses,
tour bus
A tour bus service is an escorted tour (sometimes a package holiday) or bus service that takes visitors sightseeing, with routes around tourist attractions.
Information
Double-decker buses and open top buses are commonly used, for provi ...
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 long.
Midibuses are minibuses bigger than microbuses but smaller than
full-size buses
Full-size car—also known as large car—is a vehicle size class which originated in the United States and is used for cars larger than mid-size cars, it is the largest size class for cars. In Europe, it is known as E-segment or F-segment. ...
.
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
The most basic source of minibuses is the van conversion, where the minibus is derived by modifying the existing
van
A van is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods or people. Depending on the type of van, it can be bigger or smaller than a pickup truck and SUV, and bigger than a common car. There is some varying in the scope of the word across th ...
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 bus.
Examples of vans used for these conversion minibuses are:
*
Fiat Ducato
*
Ford Transit
*
Freight Rover Sherpa
The LDV Pilot is a panel van that was produced by LDV Limited from 1996 until 2005, and closely based on preceding models dating back to the 1974 Leyland Sherpa (which were in turn related to older models).
The Pilot was available in capacities ...
*
GAZelle
*
Hyundai H350
*
Iveco Daily
*
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a light commercial vehicle (van) built by Mercedes-Benz Group AG of Stuttgart, Germany as a large van, chassis cab, minibus, and pickup truck. In the past, the Sprinter had been sold under the Mercedes-Benz, Dod ...
*
Renault Master
The Renault Master is a large van produced by the French manufacturer Renault since 1980, now in its third generation. It replaced the earlier Renault Super Goélette light trucks. Opel has sold versions of the second and third series vans as ...
*
Toyota Hiace
*
Volkswagen Crafter
*
Tata Winger
The Tata Winger is a light commercial van produced by the Indian automaker Tata Motors in 2007. It is a rebadged version of the Renault Trafic Mk1 Phase 3 van, but fitted with Tata's own 2 litre diesel engines, competing with the Volkswagen Tra ...
Body builds
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 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 and
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
The Wayne Busette is a minibus that was assembled by Wayne Corporation from 1973 to 1990. During its production, many examples of the Busette were produced as school buses. One of the first examples produced with a cutaway van chassis, the Busett ...
(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
Freight Rover was a British commercial vehicle manufacturer based in the Washwood Heath area of Birmingham, England.
History
Freight Rover was created as a division of the Land Rover Group of British Leyland (BL) in 1981, creating a new singl ...
*
Iveco Daily
*
Isuzu Elf locally built as the NQR bus
Purpose built
A next generation approach to the van-derived or
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 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
The Hino Liesse (kana:日野・リエッセ) is a step-floor minibus built by the Japanese automaker Hino Motors from 1995 to 2011. The range was primarily available as a city bus and a tourist coach.
Models
*KC-RX4JFAA (1995)
*KK-RX4JFEA (19 ...
*
Isuzu Journey
*
MCW Metrorider
The MCW Metrorider, launched at the 1986 Motor Show, was a minibus designed built by Metro Cammell Weymann (MCW) between 1986 and 1989. Constructed in two lengths, 7.0 m and 8.4 m, the Metrorider was an integral bus, marking it out from its van ...
(also termed a
midibus)
*
Nissan Diesel RN
The Nissan Diesel RN (kana:日産ディーゼル・RN) is a one-step light-duty bus produced by the Japanese manufacturer Nissan Diesel
UD Trucks Corporation (UDトラックス株式会社, ''UD Torakkusu Kabushikigaisha'') is a Japanese company ...
*
Nissan Civilian
The Nissan Civilian ( kana: 日産・シビリアン, Shibirian) is a single-decker minibus built by Japanese automaker Nissan since 1971. It is primarily available as a public bus and an intercity bus. In Japan, it was exclusive to '' Niss ...
*
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
Following the development of
low-floor
Accessibility is the design of products, devices, services, vehicles, or environments so as to be usable by people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design and practice of accessible development ensures both "direct access" (i. ...
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
Orion Bus Industries, also known as Bus Industries of America in the United States, was a private bus manufacturer based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
The company had its main manufacturing plant in Mississauga and sent bus body shells to t ...
"
*
Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Midi ME
*
Optare Solo (termed a midibus)
*
Optare Alero
*
Hino Poncho (1st generation
front-engined, 2nd
rear-engined)
*
Nissan Diesel RN
The Nissan Diesel RN (kana:日産ディーゼル・RN) is a one-step light-duty bus produced by the Japanese manufacturer Nissan Diesel
UD Trucks Corporation (UDトラックス株式会社, ''UD Torakkusu Kabushikigaisha'') is a Japanese company ...
(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
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a light commercial vehicle (van) built by Mercedes-Benz Group AG of Stuttgart, Germany as a large van, chassis cab, minibus, and pickup truck. In the past, the Sprinter had been sold under the Mercedes-Benz, Dod ...
*
Karsan Jest
Regional variants
There are many different form of public transportation services around the world that are provided by using vehicles that can be considered as minibus:
*
Chiva bus in Colombia and Ecuador
*
Colectivo in southern South America
*
Community bus (Japanese コミュニティバス ''komiunitibasu'') in Japan (Include minibus and
midibus)
*
Dala dala in Tanzania
*
Dollar van a.k.a. jitneys, in the United States.
*
Dolmuş in Turkey
*
Jeepney in the Philippines
*
Maeul-bus (Korean 마을버스) in South Korea
*
Marshrutka in eastern Europe.
*
Matatu around Kenya
*
Minibus taxi in South Africa, Ethiopia, see also
Taxi wars in South Africa
The term taxi war refer to the turf wars fought between taxi associations and individual minibus taxi drivers in South Africa from the late 1980s onwards
to the present.
The multi-billion rand minibus taxi industry carries over 60% of South Afr ...
*
Pesero, minibuses operating as regular buses in Mexico, especially in Mexico City.
*
Public light bus
The public light bus or minibus is a public transport service in Hong Kong. It uses minibuses to serve areas that standard Hong Kong bus lines cannot reach efficiently. The vehicles are colloquially known by the code-switch ' (Van Jái) lite ...
es, in Hong Kong.
*
Sherut in Israel
*
Songthaew around Thailand and Lao
*
Tap tap
''Tap taps'' ( ht, Taptap, ) are gaily painted buses or pick-up trucks with metal covers[Ha ...]
in Haiti
*
Tro tro around Ghana
*
Weyala in Ethiopia
Driving licence
Some countries may require an additional class of
driving licence
A driver's license is a legal authorization, or the official document confirming such an authorization, for a specific individual to operate one or more types of motorized vehicles—such as motorcycles, cars, trucks, or buses—on a publi ...
over a normal private car licence, and some may require a full
commercial driving licence. The need for such a licence may depend on:
*Vehicle weight or size
*Seating capacity
*Driver age
*Intended usage
*Additional training (such as the
Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme in the UK)
In the UK the following information regarding Minibus driving licences is important:
"The holder of an ordinary car driving licence which was obtained prior to January 1997, once aged 21 years minimum, may drive a Minibus with a capacity of 16 passengers. Where the "ordinary car driving licence" is obtained after December 1996, they will have to take a separate test to drive a vehicle with a capacity of more than 8 passengers. However, there is an exemption for certain volunteer drivers, where the vehicle does not exceed 3500 kg GVW (or 4250 kg GVW if the vehicle is designed to be wheelchair accessible)
Driving licence source
A driving licence issued in
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, Canada, for an equivalent of a
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:
11 tonnes maximum authorized mass, including trailers with 4.6 tonnes MAM6 tonnes MAM in certain cases
*passenger seating capacity o
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 driv
that
Transport Canada defines as large passenger vans.
Gallery
File:Samba(1).jpg, Volkswagen Type 2 "microbus"
File:GAZel-Marshrutka of Piteravto in Tosno.jpg, Russian GAZelle 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
File:Dolmuş.JPG, Van converted minibuses as light transit buses
File:Optare Alero 1.jpg, Optare Alero integral low floor minibus
File:Iveco Daily obuses Orell.jpg, Van conversion Iveco Daily minibus with full height entrance door
File:Coaches 26 Oct 2013 unknown (10519601305).jpg, Iveco Daily minibus in the UK
File:PA-ME17DF Kanako Ka1007.jpg, Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Midi
The Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Midi (kana: 三菱ふそう・エアロミディ) is a step-entrance, low entry and low floor midibus produced by the Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Fuso. It is primarily available as public buses and sightseeing ...
ME low floor minibus
File:Hokutetsu Kanazawa Chuo Bus.JPG, Nissan Diesel RN
The Nissan Diesel RN (kana:日産ディーゼル・RN) is a one-step light-duty bus produced by the Japanese manufacturer Nissan Diesel
UD Trucks Corporation (UDトラックス株式会社, ''UD Torakkusu Kabushikigaisha'') is a Japanese company ...
partially low floor light bus
File:HUST local traffic 4126.jpg, Electric minibus in China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population exceeding 1.4 billion, slig ...
File:Buses 4U SN08 EJL.JPG, A Volkswagen Crafter minibus
File:Thanyaburi Transport 381.jpg, Nissan Civilian
The Nissan Civilian ( kana: 日産・シビリアン, Shibirian) is a single-decker minibus built by Japanese automaker Nissan since 1971. It is primarily available as a public bus and an intercity bus. In Japan, it was exclusive to '' Niss ...
in Pathumthani, Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
(Thanyaburi Transport CO.,LTD.)
File:Thep U-Thong Khonsong 338.jpg, Toyota Coaster B50 in Pathumthani, Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
(Thep U-Thong Khonsong CO.,LTD)
File:Higer KLQ6608GC 374 374K3-1.jpg, Higer KLQ6608GC in Pathumthani, Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
(Kittisoontorn CO.,LTD.)
See also
*
Cutaway van chassis
*
Volkswagen Transporter
{{Authority control
Buses by type