why do buses travel at 20 mph when it should be 30 mph?

Answer 1

I would say that the short distance between bus stops, combined with the slow accelleration due to the weight of the vehicle means that it would be difficult to reach 30mph before they get to the next stop. I also believe that in busy city centres, although the legal limit is 30mph, they may be restricted to 20mph by their governing body due to the number of pedestrians around.

Answer 2

The maximum safe speed for a bus on a 30 mph road is 28.5 mph. When you consider that an empty bus weighs anything from 8 to 24 tonnes when empty depending on the size of the vehicle in question and that every 15 passengers adds another ton of weight, when we have to stop every 4-500 yards to let people on and off, there just isn't enough time to accelerate to the legal speed limit. Or if the service has been quiet then driving at the posted speed limit will mean that you get to your next stop earlier than your scheduled time which is an offence that can result in instant dismissal from your place of employment.

Answer 3

They have a timetable to keep and I think the average speed for a bus including stops is about 17mph or less. I do not know how you arrive at a correct speed of 30mph that is a maximum not the proper speed in a built up area.

Dr SDavid does not realise that if the bus is too long at a stop in a buiklt up area people will complain and passenger prefer to be on the move

Answer 4

The 30 mph is a maximum limit that is allowed if the road conditions allow, it is not mandatory.
Any responsible driver will travel at a speed that is safe depending on the weather, road conditions and other factors.
A bus driver may have as many as 70 people on his vehicle, a percentage of them standing in the aisles,and will take into account the safety of his passengers.

Answer 5

Like your question.

When driving my van early mornings, I many a time get stuck behind a bus, doing 15 to 20 miles per hour.

Although I do not know the exact reason, I believe it is to ensure they get to stops at the correct time, and not too early. I have often thought though, why not stop longer at the bus stop, and then move to the next at a safe but near normal speed.

A Friend of mine has a bus driver as a part time driver for her, and she always complains he drives too slow, 35 miles per hour in a 60 miles per hour zone, on open roads, at 3am in the morning.

Must be a bus drivers thing.

Answer 6

they dont always travel at 20mph but having to stop so often at times and its not that the buses are restricted to that speed the accelaration upto 30mph isnt much slower than a car but because of most of the idiot car drivers on the roads cutting them up whats the point of going that fast

Answer 7

Because there are too many cars on the road clogging up the system. A trip into the city centre takes 45 minutes in rush hour, yet only 20 at any other time of the day. Why? Because of the traffic jams caused by selfish people in cars!! It's not like our public transport system is bad either!!

Answer 8

time topersistent living house/time topersistent to college = 20/30 = 2/3 --> a million/3 of the time is 15 min time topersistent living house = 30 min time topersistent to college = 40 5 min bus A is 10km nearer to the station after a million hour bus a is 37.5 km away and bus B is 40 seven.5 km away bus B is traveling at effortless of 40 seven.5 km/hr please dodge itemizing the priority form of your homwork

Answer 9

20 mph...
Dont flatter the buses

Answer 10

They have a timetable to stick to. If they arrive early people will miss the bus. If they wait at the stops then passengers get annoyed they aren't moving.