singledecker

Singledecker, or single-deck bus, is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers on a single horizontal deck. It is used for urban and suburban public transportation as well as longer-distance coach services, and is the counterpart to double-decker and articulated buses.

Design and configurations: Most single-deckers range roughly 8 to 12 meters in length, with shorter midibuses and longer models up to about 12–14 meters for highway-coach variants. They can be low-floor for wheelchair access or traditional high-floor layouts. Low-floor designs increasingly include features such as kneeling suspension and ramp access. Seating capacity varies with length and layout, commonly in the range of 25–60 passengers.

Propulsion and technology: Propulsion is primarily diesel in many regions, but natural gas, hybrid, electric, and hydrogen-powered versions are increasingly common as cities pursue lower emissions. Some models use alternative fuel architectures to support rapid transit and fleet renewal.

Applications: In urban routes, single-deck buses provide efficient passenger flow and easier maneuverability in tight streets than longer vehicles. They are also favored on suburban services and on routes where bridge or tunnel clearances make taller buses impractical.

Industry and variants: The category encompasses city buses, suburban buses, and coach-like singles designed for longer trips. Major manufacturers supply a wide range of single-deckers worldwide, including Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Iveco, MAN, Solaris, BYD, and Yutong.

History: The single-deck bus emerged in the early 20th century and became a dominant form for city fleets in many regions, especially where infrastructure and maintenance favored simpler, lower-height vehicles.