How’s this for open-air seating? Unobstructed views of the Spanish countryside, and plenty of fresh air. No fussy seat belts or safety restraints. Just watch out for low hanging tree branches.
Bus Stop Outtake: 1923 Saurer Bus in Spain – When the Double-decker Bus Was a Bit Different
– Posted on May 19, 2018
Why is it Right hand drive?
According to Wiki, apparently different provinces of Spain were LHD or RHD into the 1920s.
I once read that the province of British Columbia, Canada, drove on the left until 1922. I don’t know how it was in the other provinces.
Saurer is Swiss made bus. On narrow Alp roads it is easier to navigate around cliffs and drops with opposite side steering as what would be normal
Ah the good old days when no one cared about liability and personal injury lawsuits, you built things because they were fun. They’re oblivious to the danger and today we find something to fear at every turn. Are we better off for it?
I was watching a video of a bus tour of Manhattan with open air rooftop seating. Looked fun, but the traffic lights looked close!
Open-top double-decker buses are a fairly common sight in the touristy parts of the Miami area.
Growing up in Edinburgh, Scotland, I recall some drivers who usually drove single deckers “converting” double deckers against railway bridges.
Another childhood memory is sitting at the front of the top deck and flinching as the screen hit (smallish) tree branches as we trundled through the city. Presumably the open top tour buses didn’t take those routes.
What would be funny is if this was an outing for the local bar association…
“Watch out for that low branch Granny.”
“What did you say Jethro?
THWUUMMPP!!!
At least they have chairs on that top deck. In Myanmar, I’ve ridden on bus roofs too, but without proper seats.
An “Imperiale” railroad coach from 1880’s France:
Since it’s a Spanish picture, I did some research on the background.
Luarca is a town in Asturias. Automóviles Luarca, S. A. (Sociedad Anónima = Incorporated) was an old stagecoach company that had a line that communicated Luarca with Oviedo (the Asturian capital) in about 8 hours in 1899 using steam powered vehicles. Their first gasoline engine was used in 1916 and in 1923 they created the society that appears on the name of the bus (Luarca S. A.).
At the time Asturias was one of the few industrialised regions in Spain, hence the importance.
Ah, and Luarca became ALSA, which is now Spain’s largest intercity bus company, although now it’s owned by National Express.
https://www.alsa.es/sobre-alsa/historia