Evening star., 1924-10-23
BUS FARES ABOVE
STREET CAR RATES
Competition Must Be in Serv-
ice Instead of Charges,
Experts Declare.
BY j. C. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, October 23.-Competi-
tion in rates OF fare between electric
railway and bus lines promises to
grow less instead of greater as mo-
tor transportation lines develop. That
was the consensus of opinion of a
number of transportation experts to-
day. Busses, according to George H.
Kelly Of the White Motor Company
of Cleveland, probably will not be
able to reduce fares to the level of
the electric and steam lines at least
for the present.
The cost of bus operation is not
light and the capacity of the indi-
vidual vehicle is far less than that
of a steam or electric passenger car.
Initial cost of busses Is heavy item
and the men who operate them are
comparatively highly paid. However,
Mr.. Kelly added, the bus companies
will not have to base their fares on
the level Of the rail lines.
Competition in Service.
Competition will be in service
rather than in rates. in his belief. 1T
Is probable" he continued, that the
bus will experience the same char
acter of development as the Pullman
car. Travel by Pullman for long
time was In the luxury class. Now
Pullman space often Is difficult to
secure. People are willing to pay
for the service the Pullman car pro-
vides for them. There are indica-
tions that passengers will be willing
to pay likewise for bus transporta-
ton, especially for short distances.
at rate somewhat higher than for
travel by rail lines"
Street congestion undoubtedly will
limit the field for bus transporta-
tion in the cities. In the larger CEN
ters they surely must be supplement
tary, according to transportation en-
glneers. They are rapidly winning
a place, however, on restricted routes.
Auto Owners Using Busses.
Many business men who have been
in the habit of driving in their own
automobiles to their offices have
abandoned that practice because of
parking difficulties and traffic. conges-
ton. Bus company executives say
this class of patrons is falling natu-
rally into the bus riding habit espe-
cially on lines running close to the
business districts. Buses making
the rounds of residence districts are
finding fertile field in transport
ing children to and from school.
In the cities motor transportation
of passengers is both aided and
checked by the fact that busses can
not utilize standing room. Many ride
in them because IL they can board the
vehicle they are sure OF a seat, but
competitive street car lines are able
to carry far more passengers per unit.
Even If busses have sufficient head
room for standees, the lurching of the
vehicle makes the possibility Of acci-
dent too great for operating compa-
nies to risk damage suits.
London Stresses Safety.
Safety Is stressed above other con-
Siderations in the operation OF busses
in London, where their use has pro-
gressed further than anywhere else.
The bus drivers of London are taught
that carelessness is their worst COM
petitor and public confidence their
best friend" said Col. James Patterson,
English traffic expert, who has been
investigating street conditions in this
country.
1.-The duty of the employe of motor
transportation company, as he is
taught to see ii, is to be keen on his
work, to learn it thoroughly and quail
ify for promotion, to obey cheerfulIy
and cause others to do so readily, to
be proud of his business courteous to
the public and each other" Those
qualifications. he indicated. were es-
sential to successful operation of bus
lines.
Busses recently turned out by man
ufacturers have shown marked i'm
provements, both in the way of luxu-
rious appointments and speed. Most
Of these new superbusses have been
put into service over long routes, and
some are now making tours clear
across the continent from New York
to California.