Take a Virtual Tour of BBB’s Newest Buses
April 10, 2018 9:47 AM
by Lauren Deaderick
The City of Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus (BBB) is upgrading its fleet! On March 28, BBB put into service 7 new 30-foot Gillig buses, equipped with amenities that improve customer safety and accessibility, and further reduce vehicle emissions. These smaller, more agile buses will replace several aging 40-foot buses, and better serve customers on narrower streets and corridors.
Let’s take a quick tour of these new buses and highlight some of the exciting features!
Sustainability
- Buses are equipped with Cummins-Westport Near-Zero engines and fueled by Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), reducing BBB’s nitrous oxide emissions over 90% by December 2018.
Figure 1: Buses are powered by RNG and near-zero emissions engines.
Safety
- A 10-inch passenger awareness monitor displays a live feed of the boarding area, using a security camera mounted near the front door. The monitor helps promote security for customers and Operators, and deters crime and vandalism.
Figure 2: Ten-inch monitor enables customers to see themselves when boarding.
- Slip resistant flooring made of durable materials allow for increased safety and easy maintenance.
Figure 3: Interior of the bus with slip-resistant flooring.
Accessibility
- A wheelchair securement system called the “Q-POD” uses simplified restraints for quicker securement times and greater customer comfort.
Figure 4: Q-Pod with retractable seats in upright position.
- Retractable seats located behind the Q-POD can be stowed in an upright position for safe storage of bulky items (e.g. strollers, suitcases), which helps keep the aisle clear.
Figure 5: New retractable seating shown in the upright and down positions.
And that’s not all -- more of these buses are on the way!
In October 2018, 20 40-foot Gillig buses will arrive, and BBB plans to commission an additional 23 40-foot Gillig buses by December 2019. That means a quarter of BBB’s fleet will be upgraded over the next 18 months.
Step on board and tell us what you think about the new blue @smbigbluebus on Facebook and Twitter!
Authored By
Lauren Deaderick
Administrative Intern