The specifications define the general technical characteristics of the new vehicles. The renewal project for these vehicles often refers to the following three major objectives:
• Operating on the routes using vehicles designed specifically for urban passenger transport that ensure passenger safety, and ease of boarding and alighting at the bus stops (intermediate and end-of-the-line);
• Provide a better quantitative and qualitative response to the demand for transport, thanks to the professionalisation of route operations; have the potential to scale up the offer in the event of prospects for growth in urban mobility;
• Contribute to reducing congestion and urban pollution by running more efficient vehicles that comply with pollution standards and the safety obligations to the passengers and other road users, including pedestrians.
The structural and technical characteristics of the new vehicles that conform with these objectives are set out in the specifications, which will generally contain the following sections:
Legislative and regulatory provisions
The characteristics of the vehicle must comply with the requirements of the main legislative and regulatory texts in respect of the highway code and passenger transport. They must also comply with the standards relating to polluting emissions, including a reference to the EURO standard that must be followed.
Dimensions, capacity and layout, accessibility
– For instance :
- The overall length and the width (in millimetres – mm) must not exceed respectively…
- The overall height must be less than…
- The headroom inside the vehicle must be approximately… so that passengers can stand and move about in an upright position, particularly when boarding and alighting.
- In order to facilitate passenger access, while remaining compatible with various road profiles and road surfaces, the ground clearance must be less than or equal to…
- Given that this is an urban vehicle for short journeys and keeping boarding and alighting times as short as possible, the number of seats should be about…
- To make the seating comfortable, the width of the seats, equipped with a backrest, will be about…
- To facilitate the flow of passengers and ensure the comfort of those who are standing, the minimum width of the aisle between rows of seats will be about…
- The seats must be organised to allow for a platform opposite where the passengers board.
- The net weight of the highest capacity vehicle must not exceed…
- The total gross weight must not exceed… (on the basis of 70 kg per person on board)
- Passengers will board and alight from two dedicated electrically operated folding or sliding doors located on the right (right-hand drive)/left (left-hand drive) side of the vehicle, controlled by…
- Doors on the rear of the vehicle, which could endanger passengers (boarding and alighting on the road and exposed to rear impacts during stops) will not be allowed.
Chassis and Bodywork
- For instance
The type of bodywork will be…
Particular attention will be paid to anti-corrosion protection by…
In general, all the parts of the bodywork must receive a complete anti-rust treatment before assembly.
The floor will be made of the most suitable materials in terms of mechanical characteristics, sound protection, vibration absorption and fire resistance, etc.
The front of the vehicle will be equipped with a laminated glass windscreen (approved safety glass) that will cover at least half of its surface area, ensuring the maximum visibility required for driving on urban roads. Given this surface area and the climatic conditions, an athermal windscreen may be proposed.
The sides will be equipped with glazed panels in sufficient number to ensure clarity and ventilation. Like the doors, they will be made of approved safety glass. The panels (or windows) will be fixed or mobile (sliding). Please note, however, that each side must have at least two movable panels that can be operated from the inside (without the intervention of the driver or the conductor) and from the outside; these panels will provide an opening to the outside (around 600 mm x 500 mm) that is big enough to allow passengers to be evacuated in the event of danger. These panels will bear the words “Issue de secours” on the inside.
Engine specifications and drive train
Given that these are urban vehicles travelling under the speed limit (derived from the local highway code), the maximum speed not to be exceeded must be specified and the engines equipped must have a device that ensures compliance with this limit.
Steering
The steering is also severely put to the test in urban areas. It must be precise, robust and smooth, which implies a rack and pinion steering with hydraulic piston (power steering).
Braking, suspension, tyres and wheels
- For example
The vehicle will have … wheels, … front wheels and two dual wheel assemblies at the rear.
Type of tyres: …
Spare wheel: ….
The main foot brake will be of the … type with independent double circuits acting on the front and rear wheels. Braking may use discs and/or drums, at the front and at the rear, with friction surfaces large enough for optimum efficiency and a system for automatically taking up play in the brake linings.
The parking brake will be…
The controls of these two braking systems must be totally independent. In addition, the proposal may be for an electric braking system …
Lighting and indicators
The vehicle will have lighting and indicator systems that comply with the regulations in force.
. Front lights …
. Rear lights …
. Turn indicators…
. Other systems…
Other equipements
Given that these are urban vehicles travelling under the speed limit (highway code), ensuring the safety of passengers and constantly confronted with other road users travelling a relatively low speeds, the maximum speed cannot exceed … km/h. The engines will be fitted with a system that ensures compliance with this limit. The installation and running of this equipment will be verified during the vehicle safety inspections.
– The vehicle will have the following equipment:
– exterior and interior mirrors…
– a windshield wiper system…
The driver’s position will have all the driving controls, lighting, etc., and, more generally, any control needed to move the vehicle in a safe manner for the passengers and other road users. Its ergonomics, including the forward/backward and height adjustments, will enable the driver to perform their duties under the best conditions.
It may be useful to differentiate between the requirements that fall under the sole responsibility of the public authorities, and those that may be decided by the professionals (technical options like engine specifications, drive train, etc.), in compliance with the other provisions and likely to fulfil the specifications for running the route.
