Customised buses

Customised bus in Pakistan

Customised buses are buses that have been modified for decorative purposes. The customisation is unrelated to performing their job or work, usually as public transport buses. Customised buses are also sometimes not used for a job or work, and are decorated as personal projects for exhibition, although this is rare compared to other types of art vehicle such as cars, bikes and customised trucks.

Customisation detail

The customisation usually involves:

• Custom exterior and interior paint schemes, including phrases and proverbs and people, such as religious icons.
• Extra decorative visual elements, such as extra lights and reflectors, flags, banners and bunting or religious symbols and artefacts.
• Modified body parts such more elaborate grilles, wheel arches, exhausts

Incidences of customisation

Slogan on a Malta bus

Pakistan has a long tradition of highly customising buses (and trucks).^[1] The Chiva Buses of Colombia are hand-built on truck chassis, used as both public transport and for private hire for parties, including as a novelty attraction in New York City.^[2] The jeep derived Jeepney share taxis of the Philippines have grown in capacity to the size of minibuses and are still being built by small scale manufacturers, although are facing calls for their reduction in number and competition with regular public transport. The Colectivo (urban bus) of Argentina, particularly Buenos Aires were historically highly customised, dating back to the 1920s. The practice of customisation continued until the adoption of more modern public transport buses which saw the practice fade out. Historic customised Colectivos are now prized museum exhibits, or have been restored as private vehicles. The island of Malta has had a long tradition of customising their buses used for public transport,^[3] due to the variety of models imported, and the small nature of garage facilities. The customisation in Malta is understated compared to other countries. In the 2000s a drive was initiated to update the fleet with more modern buses, but historic examples remain, and the tradition of customisation has continued for the modern models.

Other types of customised buses

Mural on a Chiva bus

Advert buses, party buses, sleeper buses and tour buses are all types of buses that may feature a degree of decorative customisation as part of their primary function, and not just for personalisation.

See also

• Jingle truck – U.S. army slang for decorated trucks in Asia
• Dekotora – Japanese decorated trucks
• Tap-Tap – Haitian decorated buses
• Jeepney – Philippine decorated buses
• Chicken bus – Central American decorated buses
• Diablos Rojos – Panamanian decorated buses (Spanish-language article)
• Skoolies - school buses converted into recreational vehicles.

References

1. Saudi Aramco World : Masterpieces to Go: The Trucks of Pakistan
2. New York Times A Taste of Colombia Rolls Through New York’s Streets, 2 March 2008
3. Malta Transport Authority, History of the Maltese Route bus

External links