Does Boston need a different kind of school bus?

'School districts can insist on contracting for transit-style school buses which have a flat front,' he said. 'That way, children crossing in front of the bus are more visible.'
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That inspired me to look at bid specifications for Massachusetts municipalities that contract out to private companies for bus service. Some Massachusetts municipalities (eg,
About 18 percent of American school buses for which the design is known were type D buses, and they predominate in some states, including California. (Some states, including Massachusetts, do not collect data on school bus type, which is why the national figures aren't complete.)
Here's an example of what a flat-front looks like, from a major bus manufacturer:
Introducing the all-new Saf-T-Liner HDX2 model. With a new exterior look, improved corrosion protection and enhanced product quality, we're proud to share the latest updates to our Type D product line! For details, read the full release here:
— Thomas Built Buses (@ThomasBuiltBus)
As you've probably guessed, there are also type A and type B buses, which are smaller vehicles.
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Every so often, the esoteric question of school bus design does bubble up in public debates in Massachusetts. In 2015, for instance, Acushnet officials defended cuts to bus monitors by saying
Whether a bus of that design would have made any difference in the Hyde Park accident is impossible to say. Flat-front buses also have disadvantages, including that they are generally about $25,000 more expensive per bus, according to a
Also, I don't want to fearmonger: type C buses are safe. All school buses are safe. The benefits for Boston of flat-front buses, if there are any, would be small.
According to a district official, the city is always evaluating the mix of vehicles in its fleet, but that as the need for door-to-door transportation has been growing the district has generally moved to smaller vehicles. Large transit-style buses are too big for the city's needs, the official said, and would have a harder time navigating narrow city streets.
I certainly don't claim the expertise to say whether the city has made the right call. If you do — and I know that a few bus experts read this newsletter — please
This is an excerpt from
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Alan Wirzbicki is Globe deputy editor for editorials. He can be reached at

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