If you have ever taken the bus, you might have wondered how the bus driver closes the door behind them when they exit the bus.
This is a good question to ask as it can be a mystery as to how a bus driver closes the doors when they are the ones who operate the doors.
Bus drivers control every aspect of the buses that they drive, making it an interesting subject when you look at how they exit the bus. Many buses still depend completely on the bus driver to open and close the doors manually from the driver’s seat.
If you have been a regular bus rider, this may have been something that you are curious about. Keep reading to find out how bus drivers shut the door behind them when they exit the bus and whether or not bus doors can be locked by the driver.
How Does a Bus Door Close When the Bus Driver Leaves?
Many buses operate by using air pressure to open and close the doors, which the bus driver operates at their seat. This operation can be switched to the manual position to allow the bus driver to leave the bus in the doors to close behind them.
Not every bus is going to be the same, however, so some buses may allow you to open and close the doors manually. When the bus is shut off, the driver can physically open the doors and close them behind them when they leave.
More modern buses may also have a key that allows the bus driver to get out and lock or open the doors behind them. This is the rarer option as most bus stores are still controlled completely by air pressure.
Many buses also have a switch outside of the bus that is hidden so that only the bus driver knows that it is there. The switch allows them to close the doors behind them when they exit the bus so that it is secure when they are not inside.
These are the options that many bus drivers have as there are different kinds of buses. There are probably also other ways to close by stores that some bus drivers use when they exit the bus and cannot control the door anymore.
Are Bus Doors Automatic?
When it comes to how buses work, you’re going to see a lot of different examples as there are many types of buses on the road. All of the buses are not the same and will not operate in the same way.
This is because different types of buses that are used for different purposes may run differently and have different features. For instance, a school bus is going to be slightly different from your typical public transportation bus.
There are many older buses still on the road that have not been updated to more modern versions. This also creates a large diversity in the kinds of buses that you will find.
Many people wonder if bus doors are all automatic. This is because many of the more modern buses do have automatic doors allowing bus drivers more control when exiting or entering the bus.
Automatic doors do not need to be controlled by the bus driver as there is a button by the doors that allow riders to press it so that the doors open and close. The driver also has this button so that they can still have some control over the door when letting people in and out.
This is the more desirable way of opening and closing bus doors. Though there are still many buses on the road that do not have automatic doors just yet.
Can Bus Doors be Locked?
Most buses come with the ability for the driver to lock the doors if they need to. This is usually used when the driver exits the bus and there are no passengers inside.
This is typically available as you would expect any other kind of vehicle to be locked with a lock and key on the doors. This offers more security so that someone cannot break into the bus if the driver is not present.
The rear doors on a bus are also usually locked at all times so that passengers cannot exit while the bus is moving. This also keeps passengers from trying to leave the bus through the rear doors when the bus stops.
It is absolutely necessary for buses to have a lock feature for their doors for safety reasons. Though these locks are not typically used during the day when the bus is in service and are almost never locked when riders are present and need to get through the doors.
The front doors are almost always open and will only be locked in specific instances or emergencies.
Why Do Buses Have Rear Doors?
People who regularly ride buses may be wondering why all buses have rear doors. After all, bus drivers never open these rear doors to let people out, they have to file through the main doors on the side of the bus.
These rear doors have a purpose, however, which is why all buses have them. This is for certain instances, such as:
- Fire escape
- Emergency escape
- Medical emergencies
These rear doors are used for emergency exits when people cannot access the main doors. The rear doors are also a bit more accessible and can open wider, allowing for better exiting in certain situations.
This is why they are often used if there is any kind of medical emergency going on in the bus. Other than when in use for emergencies, these rear doors will always be locked when the bus is running.
Bus drivers keep these rear doors locked for safety reasons so that people cannot try to exit the bus through the back at any time.
Who Shuts a Bus Door When the Driver Leaves?
When the bus driver leaves the bus, they will have the option of being able to close the door behind them in different ways depending on the type of bus. Some bus drivers have a special lever that they can switch to close the doors behind them.
While some bus stores can be opened and closed manually once the bus has been shut off. Some bus drivers only need to turn off the air pressure and can easily close the doors behind them once they are out of the bus.
It all depends on the type of bus that they are driving and how it operates.