The charter bus services that you know and love definitely weren’t always as convenient and comfortable as they are today — in fact, it look a pretty long time for modern coach bus transportation to develop into such a successful and important part of the transportation and tourism industries. Here’s a brief look at how coach buses evolved, and how much change has been made since their humble beginnings:
Back in 1820… the first buses — called “omnibuses,” which is Latin meaning “for all,” were actually more like horse-drawn carriages than anything else. These buses were actually a major development for transportation at that time, though, because public transportation wasn’t exactly the huge industry that it is today. It’s not surprising that it only took about a decade for people to get tired of the uncomfortable horse-drawn buses and move onto steam-powered buses, since the horses didn’t provide much in terms of comfort.
These days, motorcoach companies pride themselves on providing the most comfortable trip possible for passengers. Modern coach bus transportation usually means that you’ll have reclining seats, air conditioning, entertainment systems, wi-fi access, and even on-board bathrooms. And quite like the first horse-drawn buses, modern coach buses have a minimal impact on the environment — especially compared to other forms of group transportation.
Back in 1895… The first engine-powered bus appeared on the road, taking the spotlight away from steam-powered buses and trolley buses. These “advanced” buses were still pretty slow, especially compared to rail lines, but they provided transportation without the limitations of trolley lines or railroad tracks.
In the same way, coach bus companies today still provide valuable transportation options for many people who would otherwise have no way to travel between cities. Airplanes and trains might be a little faster, but they usually only make stops in metropolitan areas; in the U.S. alone, thousands of people would have no way to travel to another city if coach bus transportation ceased to exist.
The evolution of the modern bus certainly wasn’t easy, and it certainly isn’t finished just yet!