Often referred to as "Dragon Buses" or simply "Chinatown Buses are services offered by companies founded by Chinese American or Chinese Canadians which offer low cost no frills transportation from a Chinatown District in one city to another. (Boston Chinatown <---> NYC Chinatown <----> Washington DC Gallery Place Chinatown)
Despite the efforts of larger companies like Greyhound (Bolt Bus) and Coach USA-Stagecoach Group (Megabus) to capture some of this market Chinatown bu
Nearly 400,000 people rely on Metro Transit in the Minneapolis-St.Paul area as its the largest transit network in the State of Minnesota.
Metro Transit Gillig Advantage
Type: Public
Union Representation: Metro Transit employees are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005
Fleet Size: 679 Low Floor Transit Buses, 169 Articulated Buses, 60 Highway Coaches, 86 Light Rail Vehicles, 6 Heavy Locomotives paired with 18 Rail
Providing Transportation for the Mexican State of Baja California
Transportes de Baja California Flxible Metro B
Type: Public
Union Representation: Not Unionized
Fleet Size: Unknown, Approximately 250-300
Routes: Unknown, Service adapts as demand changes
Manufacturer and Powerplant: The State of Baja California acquires used American transit buses and school buses to be used in its bus fleet as purchasing
For over 20 Years rain or shine the LLV has kept the Mail moving and become a staple of American Suburbia
USPS Grumman LLV
Manufacturer Quick Facts:
Founded: 1929 (Merged with Northrup in 1994 to form Northrup Grumman Corporation)
Headquarters: Bethpage, New York
Industry: Aerospace, Airplane Manufacturing, Electrical Equipment, Delivery Vehicles
Notable Product: Apollo Lunar Module, Grumman F4F WIldcat, G
A traditional right of passage for nearly every bus driver who must enter New York City, The Lincoln Tunnel is the Gateway to the Big Apple
The Lincoln Tunnel
Type: Tunnel
Management: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Construction-Completion-Cost: 1934-1937, Project cost $85 Million ($1.52 Billion 2017 Inflation Adjustment)
Termini: Weehawken, New Jersey <-----> Manhattan, New York City
Trave
One of the most successful privately owned bus enterprises, Peter Pan has been in the industry for 75 years
Peter Pan Bus Lines MCI J4500
Type: Private
Union Representation: Peter Pan Bus Drivers are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1512
Fleet Size: 132 Highway Motorcoaches in both Long and Medium Distance configurations
Routes: 10 routes linking major cities in the Northeastern Corridor such as Boston, NYC, W
Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Bus Driver? Lets Find Out!
NYCT/MTA New Flyer D60
Overview: Many people in the job market will come across job postings for the position of bus driver and consider doing it for a career. However most people are very unaware of the challenges this career path brings. I am always asked by my friends, family and even my passengers what the best way to get started is. I will get into that as well as what this job is actuall
(Been Away Helping Family in Japan, Now Lets Start The Countdown to 200!)
A perfect example of how a private entity should serve the people, Kokusai Kogyo is well known in Tokyo for its public transportation services.
Kokusai Kogyo Isuzu Erga
Type: Private
Union Representation: Not Unionized
Fleet Size: 500 Isuzu Erga Low Floor buses, 150 Isuzu Gala Highway Coaches, 50 Toyota Century Limousines, 20 Subaru L
An iconic visonary of the modern era, Ken Block is often credited with making the sport of Rallying more popular among youth in North America and worldwide.
Ken Block with the Team Hoonigan Ford Mustang "Hoonicorn"
Driver Quick Facts:
Name: Kenneth Block
Birthday: November 21, 1967
Hometown: Long Beach, California, United States
Series: World Rally Championship, FIA European Rallycross
Team: Hoonigan Racing Division
Spons
I have always loved the auto show, it comes to Washington DC every year in January and I always miss it. This year I got my tickets early and made it. I thought it be interesting to share my thoughts on what I saw.
Noticeably absent this year were Volvo, Tesla and Mitsubishi
Here are my top picks from this years auto show
2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Volkswagen: When Samsung was facing difficulties with its Galaxy Note 7 and issued a global recall i
Serving the largest city and the capital of Ireland, Dublin Bus provides 125 million rides a year.
Dublin Bus Alexander Dennis Enviro 400
Type: Public, Statutory Corporation owned by the Irish Government
Union Representation: All Dublin Bus Operators and other employees are represented by the National Bus and Railworkers Union (NBRU)
Fleet Size: 987 Low Floor Double Decker, Single Decker and Articulated Transit Buses
Routes: 136 Routes,
Serving the bustling Fairfax County, Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. The Fairfax Connector was one of first of the smaller transit agencies in Suburban Washington to grow into a much larger operation.
Fairfax Connector New Fyler XD40
Type: Public/Private, Service privately operated by Transdev
Union Representation: All Fairfax Connector Bus Operators are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1764
Fleet Size: 210
Routes: 90
Manuf
The next inductee into the Hall of Transit Greats helped shaped American Road Travel for Decades.
GM Scenicruiser in service with Greyhound
Manufacturer Quick Facts:
Founded: 1901
Main Office: Detroit, Michigan
Industry: Trucks and Buses
Notable Product: GM New-Look, GM Old-Look, RTS. GMC Topkick, CCKW, DUKW, Sierra, Yukon, Terrain
GM Scenicrusier Taken Out of Service
Model Quick F
(Happy New Year!)
Formed in the late 70's, the WRC is the highest caliber of Rally Motorsports in the world and formally united rallying events which were held separately and were unaffiliated.
Current Generation World Rally Cars
Series Overview: A Formation of the European Rally Championship which consisted of mostly privateer teams and the International Championship for Manufacturers or ICM which was a rally only for Manufacturers to
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Laws regarding the importation of cars into the United States are set by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection a branch of the Department of Homeland Security.
Overview: In the 1980's Mercedes Benz and other German Automakers reigned supreme, however they began to lose business due to the arrival of Japanese brands into the U.S. in the late 70's and this continued into the 80's and as
The oldest and most prestigious motorcycle race in the world, only the best race at the Isle of Man.
First Organized: 1907
Type: Time Trials, GP Race
Course: Snaefell Mountain Course
Class: Tourist Trophy
The Isle of Man is a small island located in the Irish Sea surrounded by Northern Ireland and England. Every year in May and June motorcyclists descend on this island for one of the most challenging races in the world.
Racers at the 2015 I
Americans have very specific buying tastes, Americans like large crossover SUVs with preferably a V8 engine under the hood and enough room for at least 5 people. Noticing these trends has opened up a brand new segment of luxury vehicles which may have seemed ridiculous 5 years ago.
Porsche Cayenne Turbo
Porsche: Arguably the one that started it all, Porsche was the first to attempt a realistic fusion of a sports car and a family SUV. The Cayenne launched in 2002 and m
(So Sorry I've been AWOL, work/life been crazy)
A newer automotive startup, seeking to reinvent personal mobility while achieving astonishing goals of building cars with high fuel economy, improved safety and low MSRP.
Manufacturer Quick Facts:
Founded: August 1, 2009
Main Office: Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Industry: High MPG Economy Cars
Notable Products: P4, P5
Elio Motors P4 in "Creamsicle" color
A unique partnership joining dozens of bus companies under one umbrella, Trailways ensures all private charter bus companies get a fair share of business.
Susquehanna Trailways Prevost H3-45
Type: Private, Alliance of 70 Charter Bus Operators
Union Representation: Some Locations Unionized
Fleet Size: Not Disclosed
Routes: Few Dedicated Routes, Mostly Chartered Point to Point Service
Manufacturer and Powerplant: Most companies operat
Let's take a look back at some of the brands we lost over the last decade and some of the vehicles which made them notable
2012 Saab 9-5 (Final Release)
Saab: The Swedish Yin to Volvo's Yang, Saab had a very interesting history and a very strict company culture which it could not deviate from. That eventually led to Saab's sad end which could have been prevented. In 1989 General Motors invested $600 Million in Saab essentially taking a 50% stake in the company. This
Operating as a branch of the Department of Transportation and Public Works of Puerto Rico (DTOP), the service is more commonly known by its abbreviation in Spanish. Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses de Puerto Rico or AMA.
AMA Orion V
Type: Public/Private, Some routes operated by contractor First Transit
Union Representation: Not Unionized
Fleet Size: 149 Transit Buses, 33 Suburban Medium Duty Buses, 60 Paratransit Vehicles
Routes: 50
Manufa
Sometimes accidents happen, but as an opertator of a train with hundreds of lives on board its always up to the driver to be on the lookout for trouble.
Controls of an Amtrak Siemens ACS-64 Sprinter
As is blaringly obvious, train drivers do not have a steering wheel and trains cannot change direction at will, this means that a large part of the train drivers job is observing the tracks ahead and the signals for any signs of danger.
Practice: All railways use s
One of America's oldest heavy duty vehicle makers, Mack Trucks specializes in truck building and design. The brand nearly disappeared due to the economic collapse of 2009 but was saved after being purchased by Volvo Group.
Manufacturer Quick Facts:
Founded: June 11, 1900
Main Office: Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
Industry: Heavy Duty Trucks in Classes 6 through 8, Buses (formerly), Chassis Building, Fire Engines
Notable Products: Pinnacle, Te
(Happy Indigenous Peoples Day)
2015 Ford Focus
I know I haven't been keeping you posted on the status of this project, this is largely due to the frustrations my daily driver has been causing me since my last update in July. So now get a snack and a drink and allow me to fill you in on the situation for the last few months.
2003 Toyota Rav4 and TCM Location behind the glove compartment
Prologue: In 2012 I was given a 2003 Toyota Rav4
The brand which had a lot going for it, but never really went anywhere has been cancelled after a noble 13 year production run.
"What Moves You?"
Project Genesis: In 1999 Toyota assembled a taskforce of senior executives at its Toyota USA branch to attempt to capture sales of younger first time car buyers. The team began Toyota's "Project Genesis" an initiative launched by Toyota USA to do just that. The 3 vehicles which started this project were The To
