Editing Bus (section)

{{short description|Large road vehicle for transporting people}}
{{other uses}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
[[File:LTZ1328-19-20241030-160332.jpg|thumb|[[New Routemaster]] [[double-decker bus]] in [[London]], [[United Kingdom]]]]
[[File:BRT2101 at Balou (20230921084843).jpg|thumb|[[Youngman]] [[articulated bus]] in [[Ürümqi]], China.]]
[[File:Toronto Flyer E700A trolleybus in 1987.jpg|thumb|[[New Flyer]] [[trolleybus]] in [[Toronto]], [[Canada]]]]

A '''bus''' (contracted from '''omnibus''',<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Omnibus |volume=20 |page=104}}</ref> with variants '''multibus''', '''motorbus''', '''autobus''', etc.) is a [[motor vehicle]] that carries significantly more [[passenger]]s than an average [[car]] or [[van]], but fewer than the average [[rail transport]]. It is most commonly used in [[public transport]], but is also in use for [[charter#Other usages|charter]] purposes, or through private ownership. Although the average bus carries between 30 and 100 passengers, some buses have a capacity of up to 300 passengers.<ref name="Jongo News">{{cite news |url=http://news.jongo.com/articles/07/0315/9180/OTE4MAmXAYhbF0.html |title=China's longest bus unveiled in Shanghai |publisher=Jongo.com |date=15 March 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930181821/http://news.jongo.com/articles/07/0315/9180/OTE4MAmXAYhbF0.html |archive-date=30 September 2011}}</ref> The most common type is the [[single-deck bus|single-deck]] rigid bus, with [[double-decker bus|double-decker]] and [[articulated bus]]es carrying larger loads, and [[midibus]]es and [[minibus]]es carrying smaller loads. [[coach (vehicle)|Coaches]] are used for longer-distance services. Many types of buses, such as city transit buses and inter-city coaches, charge a fare. Other types, such as elementary or secondary [[school bus]]es or [[shuttle bus]]es within a post-secondary education campus, are free. In many jurisdictions, [[bus driver]]s require a special [[commercial driver's license|large vehicle licence]] above and beyond a regular [[driving license]].

Buses may be used for [[public transport bus service|scheduled bus transport]], [[scheduled coach transport]], [[school transport]], private hire, or [[tour bus service|tourism]]; promotional buses may be used for [[political campaign]]s and others are privately operated for a wide range of purposes, including rock and pop band tour vehicles.

[[Horsebus|Horse-drawn buses]] were used from the 1820s, followed by [[steam bus]]es in the 1830s, and electric [[trolleybus]]es in 1882. The first [[internal combustion engine]] buses, or motor buses, were used in 1895.<ref name= Eckermann2001/> Recently, interest has been growing in [[hybrid electric bus]]es, [[fuel cell bus]]es, and [[electric bus]]es, as well as buses powered by [[compressed natural gas]] or [[biodiesel]]. As of the 2010s, [[bus manufacturing]] is increasingly [[globalisation|globalised]], with the same designs appearing around the world.