In its traditional sense, a shuttle bus was used by organizations like factories as a means of transportation of employees from their home to the place of work.
So, a shuttle bus service is simply a form of public transport which ferries passengers between two destinations.
However, over time, the shuttle bus service was used for varying destinations like colleges, schools, airport and so on.
These even included entertainment destinations like shopping malls, theaters and parks.
In some cases, shuttle buses are used by non-profit organizations.
Therefore, when buying a shuttle bus, the buyer has to be aware of several aspects of the vehicle and of the purchase process itself.
The first step is to fix a budget and search for a bus that fits the budget.
Small buses invariable cost less.
Therefore, if you are short of cash, a smaller bus is the best choice.
On the other hand, larger buses have larger seating capacity and therefore can generate more revenue from passengers.
If you rely on auto financing for the purchase of the vehicle, it is necessary to consider the terms offered by various sellers.
This must be done at the outset so that there is no need to change sellers or revise options once you are into the buying process.
A buyer of a shuttle bus has to have some knowledge of the different kinds of services provided by the shuttle bus.
Only then can he buy the right kind of vehicle for the service he provides.
- The circulating shuttle service is one in which the buses ply continuously.
An example would be the service in a large hospital facility where key members are brought from different locations all the time.
Large resort communities make use of shuttle services so that guests are picked up from their destination at regular intervals of time.
- Some shuttle services also provide jitney services, which is nothing but a small motor vehicle transporting limited number of passengers on a specific route for a fare.
Jitneys typically run in specific areas like from the suburbs to downtown and so on.
The shuttle bus may be required to accommodate people with special needs.
People in wheel chairs may have to be transported from one area to another.
Passengers will also require wheel chair lift services.
If the shuttle service is used by a retirement community, elderly folk form the bulk of passengers.
In such cases, it is necessary to ensure safety features.
Specific needs of travelers must be kept in mind when choosing shuttle buses.
Regardless of the kind of service provided, shuttle buses have to be equipped with plush, microbe free, dust free interiors.
Pay attention to the interiors before making a purchase.