MENU
SEARCHCleanliness, weight reduction, and technology drive recent innovations in the transit and motorcoach seating industry.
The Esquire is 25% lighter than previous Freedman models, with a thinner backrest that allows for more legroom.
The transit and motorcoach seating industry runs on innovation, and manufacturers are looking toward customer demand and emerging technology to guide development of new products.
Creating lightweight products is an evergreen trend in seating, as lighter products result in more efficient vehicles that can travel further. A key focus for seating manufacturers in developing new products is reducing weight from iteration to iteration.
“It’s weight and economics that drive the industry,” says Tony Everett, HSM Transportation (HSM) president.
A greater push for lightweight seating is also driven by a shift from diesel or CNG propulsion to battery propulsion, says United States Seating Co. (USSC) Executive VP Raymond Melleady.
“With battery propulsion, weight is distance,” he says. “The more weight you take out of a vehicle, you allow that vehicle to travel further distances.”
Hygienic design and equipment maintenance is also a growing trend in the industry.
“We’re seeing a high amount of interest in going away from foam and fabrics and more [toward] plastic seating products,” says Doug Oswald, marketing director for American Seating. The shift to plastic allows for easier-to-clean seats, he says.
Protective covers and antimicrobial topcoats are also growing in popularity. Vinyl performance covers allow manufacturers to apply silver ions into the material that neutralizes bacteria.
“[Manufacturers] will put a protective topcoat on a material, kind of like clear coat paint on a car that protects the color underneath,” says Freedman Seating Co. National Sales Manager John Mienik.
As passengers become more connected through smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices, demand for USB outlets and chargers has grown. They are especially popular in bus rapid transit applications, where passengers are traveling for longer than 10 or 15 minutes at a time, says Melleady.
With a variety of available seating products and the evolution of new features and trends, customers have numerous things to consider when looking for the ideal option. Melleady recommends that buyers first determine what products would best fit the needs of the passengers based on the type of transportation, commute times, and items that riders may take onboard the vehicle. The ideal product would accommodate all passengers without sacrificing safety and security.
For Oswald, ergonomics is a major factor in determining what type of seat is best for any given application. He recommends allowing customers to personally test seating samples among internal staff and ridership to work out the best fit.
It’s also vital for customers to ensure that a product is reliable, says Everett. Mitigating liability through design, pretesting, and manufacturing, and checking if products are properly certified, protects both customers and OEMs.
Created in partnership with Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners, the contractor for CTA’s historic $5.7 billion RLE project, the new $250,000 scholarship program will provide three students a year from 2026 to 2030 with $3,000 scholarships.
Read More →
Steve Goodreau of WSP explores the technology’s promise, limitations and where it may fit in the evolving transit landscape.
Read More →
The Foundation produces the report each quarter, using data collected from surveys of major motorcoach manufacturers that sell vehicles in the US and Canada.
Read More →
The new mobile booking platform and backend system aim to streamline operations, improve communication, and better serve riders across a 20,000-square-mile region.
Read More →
BRIT patrols are over and above those already occurring within the district. For example, the agency experienced three copper wire thefts along the G Line in April, followed by others later in the month and in early May.
Read More →
The company partners with manufacturers such as Kiel Seating, Camira Fabric, and TSI Video, focusing on areas that directly impact both passenger experience and operational performance.
Read More →
A new ADA-compliant ramp and station upgrades improve access, enhance the rider experience, and deliver millions in cost savings for the MTA.
Read More →
Erin Hockman will officially assume the role on May 7, as current CEO Amanda Wanke departs to take a leadership position with Metro Transit in the Twin Cities.
Read More →
The survey showed that commute trips still make up the majority of ridership, with most riders boarding 2 to 3 days a week, reflecting hybrid work schedules. Two-thirds of Caltrain riders have access to a car, while 37% of Caltrain riders are considered low-income.
Read More →
The changes are designed to reduce overall travel time, shorten wait times, and get customers to their destinations more quickly.
Read More →