Fat People Are Getting Thrown Off The Bus?
March 21st, 2011 | posted by Kimberly
“Sorry lady, you are over the weight limit for this route.” What if the bus driver said this to you? Now it seems that how much someone weighs effects the safety of the bus…
Word on the street says the federal government has noticed more overweight Americans are squeezing onto buses, and it may have to rewrite bus safety rules because of it. The Federal Transit Authority (FTA) proposes raising the assumed average weight per bus passenger from 150 pounds to 175 pounds, which could mean that across the country, fewer people will be allowed on a city transit bus.
With the average bus rider tipping the scale at more than 200lbs, it makes sense to rethink the ridership capability. Current federal guidelines on average passenger weight are based on surveys in 1960-62 of what Americans weighed then. Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, the average weight is 194.7 pounds for men 20 and older and 164.7 pounds for women that age range. “FTA believes that 175 pounds is an appropriate average weight to assume for testing buses,” the agency says.
One of the main safety concerns are increased possibility of rollover on sharp turns. The bus doesn’t handle the same with increase weight. I don’t know about safety issues but it is a tighter ride nowadays on the bus. So for me, it’s just not comfortable. This is the same with air travel and riding the metro. People are getting bigger and taking up more of their neighbors personal space.
With skyrocketing gas prices, there may be even more people opting for public transportation. How will the government handle the overweight rider? One of the ways they are looking to reduce safety issues is limited ridership; which cuts into their bottom line. Another way they can keep everyone safe is to change bus design to accommodate larger people.
Maybe in the future you will see two bus stop signs, “Under 200 and Over 200.” How do you feel about bus safety? Should we be concerned with someones weight or whether or not they are carrying weapons? Leave a comment and tell me how you feel about it.
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