Bus spotting
Encyclopedia
Bus spotting is a pastime in which one seeks to see all bus
es in a particular fleet
or those produced by a particular manufacturer. A person who engages in these activities is known as a bus spotter, bus fan (popular name in Hong Kong), bus nut (term popular in the UK) or bus enthusiast (although this term can also cover preservationists). Within the bus industry bus spotters are known as moquettes, from the material used to make the seat coverings. As with train
or aircraft spotters
, bus spotters spend much time outdoors with notepads, cameras or camcorders, monitoring bus routes. Often, bus spotters are only particularly interested in one type of vehicle, such as: vintage
vehicles, or articulated buses, while others may only prefer trolleybus
es.
Bus spotters are relatively unconcerned by timetables or network quality but they may be interested in new liveries, especially ad-hoc schemes to advertise particular products or events. Some may be so keen that they might track a vehicle through its life, knowing for example which fleet numbers it has carried with different owners and when mechanical parts or interior fittings were renewed. Bus spotting has never had the wide following achieved by train spotting in the UK
, even though enthusiasts can share the common term of "gricer", however it has become popular in Hong Kong
and many bus societies have been formed there.
Bus spotters usually like to keep abreast of the news about buses. They may also like to take photograph
s of buses and ride on them. Since bus spotting involves urban mass transit, it often goes hand in hand with metrophily. In New York
, the two are often combined into "transit fan", a person who studies both bus and rail rapid transit, with the same diligence.
Bus spotter societies may organise 'fan charters' by chartering a bus of choice and photograph on different parts of the chosen route. Bus outings that take in a number of depots, with photographic tours of each, are also popular. Many spotters frequent rallies, such as Showbus, and running days where modern and/or preserved vehicles are displayed or operated.
Bus spotters are often found at major bus termini, bus depots, bus rallies and anywhere related to buses. There are a number of magazines aimed at bus enthusiasts and spotters e.g. Buses Magazine
.
DVDs of buses have become increasingly popular with spotters, with a wide variety of titles available from niche producers such as www.translens.co.uk.
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es in a particular fleet
Fleet vehicles
Fleet vehicles are groups of motor vehicles owned or leased by a business or government agency, rather than by an individual or family. Typical examples are vehicles operated by car rental companies, taxicab companies, public utilities, public bus companies, and police departments...
or those produced by a particular manufacturer. A person who engages in these activities is known as a bus spotter, bus fan (popular name in Hong Kong), bus nut (term popular in the UK) or bus enthusiast (although this term can also cover preservationists). Within the bus industry bus spotters are known as moquettes, from the material used to make the seat coverings. As with train
Railfan
A railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
or aircraft spotters
Aircraft spotting
Aircraft spotting or plane spotting is the observation and logging of the registration numbers of aircraft: gliders, powered aircraft, balloons, airships, helicopters, and microlights....
, bus spotters spend much time outdoors with notepads, cameras or camcorders, monitoring bus routes. Often, bus spotters are only particularly interested in one type of vehicle, such as: vintage
Vintage
Vintage, in wine-making, is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product . A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. In certain wines, it can denote quality, as in Port wine, where Port houses make and...
vehicles, or articulated buses, while others may only prefer trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es.
Bus spotters are relatively unconcerned by timetables or network quality but they may be interested in new liveries, especially ad-hoc schemes to advertise particular products or events. Some may be so keen that they might track a vehicle through its life, knowing for example which fleet numbers it has carried with different owners and when mechanical parts or interior fittings were renewed. Bus spotting has never had the wide following achieved by train spotting in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, even though enthusiasts can share the common term of "gricer", however it has become popular in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and many bus societies have been formed there.
Bus spotters usually like to keep abreast of the news about buses. They may also like to take photograph
Photograph
A photograph is an image created by light falling on a light-sensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic imager such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are created using a camera, which uses a lens to focus the scene's visible wavelengths of light into a reproduction of...
s of buses and ride on them. Since bus spotting involves urban mass transit, it often goes hand in hand with metrophily. In New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the two are often combined into "transit fan", a person who studies both bus and rail rapid transit, with the same diligence.
Bus Enthusiast
The term bus enthusiast has a wider meaning than just spotting buses. Bus enthusiasts have an interest not just in vehicles, but also in the operation of bus companies and their fleets in general and may include bus preservationist who buy, restore and run vintage vehicles. Bus enthusiasts may list or trace the whereabouts of surviving retired vehicles from a particular operator for example the Eastern National Vehicle Owners Club or collect scale models which may be customised to replicate particular vehicles or entire fleets. They may also collect uniforms and paraphernalia, such as conductors' ticket machines, in order to dress the part at events.Bus spotter societies may organise 'fan charters' by chartering a bus of choice and photograph on different parts of the chosen route. Bus outings that take in a number of depots, with photographic tours of each, are also popular. Many spotters frequent rallies, such as Showbus, and running days where modern and/or preserved vehicles are displayed or operated.
Bus spotters are often found at major bus termini, bus depots, bus rallies and anywhere related to buses. There are a number of magazines aimed at bus enthusiasts and spotters e.g. Buses Magazine
Buses Magazine
Buses is a United Kingdom magazine, focusing mainly on the UK bus scene.It was formerly known as Buses Illustrated until 1968 and is published by Ian Allan Publishing. The current editor is Alan Millar, based in Scotland. It also produces a yearbook, published in August every year for the next year...
.
DVDs of buses have become increasingly popular with spotters, with a wide variety of titles available from niche producers such as www.translens.co.uk.
See also
- RoadgeekRoadgeekA roadgeek is an individual involved in "roadgeeking" or "road enthusiasm"—an interest in roads, and especially going on road trips, as a hobby...
- RailfanRailfanA railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
- Bus preservation in the United KingdomBus preservation in the United KingdomIn common with cars and trucks, preservation of buses in the United Kingdom is a hobby activity enjoyed by many people, both actively or passively. The active preservation and operation of preserved buses is undertaken by private individuals, organised trusts or societies, and even commercial...