13-14 I E S LIGHTING HANDBOOK

BUS LIGHTING
Operational illumination for motor buses is similar to that of private
automobiles. However, in buses as well as in trains, planes, and ships
interior illumination usually is required continuously during operation as
a safety measure, for reading, for recognition and conversation between
passengers, and so forth. Buses usually provide more room for batteries
and generators than passenger cars and there is greater freedom in lumi-
naire layout. Trolley-operated buses are not handicapped by a limited
power supply.
An illumination level of 15 footcandles on the passenger reading plane
is recommended. Passenger-controlled localized lighting is acceptable for
inter-city buses. For safety a level of 5 footcandles is recommended on
the aisle. The interior decoration should utilize high-reflectance surfaces
in order to minimize the brightness ratios in the passengers' field of view.
This is particularly important when local lighting is used to provide reading
levels. The location and brightness characteristics of luminaires should be
studied carefully so as to minimize both direct and reflected glare. (See
Fig. 13-7.)
Despite the recognized advantages (low brightness, linear shape, shock
and vibration resistance) of fluorescent lamps for bus lighting, the need for
an a-c power supply is an obstacle to their immediate utilization.
Windshield reflections. In a motor bus as in many trolleys the operator
sits in the same space as his passengers. This creates a problem in light
distribution, since the immediate personal desires of passengers with
respect to lighting do not coincide with those of the operator. Com-
fortable, useful, and attractive passenger space lighting may lead to glare
and reflected images in the windshield.
To eliminate this glare windshields may be tilted outward (25 to 35
degrees) at the bottom so that none of the luminaires is imaged by the
windshield in the operator's field of view. However, if the over-all interior
illumination is quite high, there still may be annoying reflections from
illuminated areas, from specularly reflecting handrails, window frames,
etc., and from luminaires located quite near the operator. Opaque screens
or curtains immediately behind the operator may be used as supplements
to windshield tilting or, as on older buses, in place of it.
Destination sign. The usual destination sign is of the cloth roller curtain
type, with white letters on a black background. It is illuminated at night
by lamps mounted in the box at the rear of the roller curtain.
The following are recommendations for destination signs
:
1. For 38-inch signs it is customary to use three 21-candlepower lamps
mounted 14 inches apart. More uniform lighting of the sign will be ac-
complished by using four 15-candlepower lamps mounted 9 inches apart.
If it becomes necessary to conserve power, three 15-candlepower lamps
may be used with fair results. Signs illuminated by less than three 15-
candlepower lamps are not satisfactory as they cannot be read at a distance.
2. Lamps should be located at least 6 inches to the rear of roller curtains