On this segment of The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation, Mo Rocca meets with Curator of Transportation Matt Anderson to learn about the history of the school bus.
In the early 20th century, as rural schools consolidated and good roads spread, motorized school buses became a part of student life. The bus business thrived through much of the 20th century, first due to consolidation and later when baby boomers headed off to class. Automakers, truck manufacturers, and specialized builders produced a range of buses that promised safety for students and economy for schools.
The 1927 Blue Bird No. 1 is the oldest surviving school bus in America. Albert Luce, Sr., built his first bus in 1925 by mounting a purchased wood body to a Ford truck frame. The body could not withstand the Georgia roads. Luce, convinced he could make a better bus, applied a steel framework under the wood body. His success led him to make school buses full time.
It wasn't until the 1970s, however, that school buses started being designed with safety in mind. Such innovations include flashing red and amber lights, larger front windows to help visibility, and the swing-out stop sign.
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6 дек 2019
