Double Decker Bus To Be Tested In San Francisco

"The borrowed double-decker bus will travel along some of the city's busiest transit corridors, including Geary and Mission streets, for example, to see how they perform and whether the riding public is keen on the idea."

"At 14-feet tall, city officials say there should be no problem of the buses interfering with overhead utility lines. They also can fit through the Stockton Street tunnel as long as drivers stay in the middle lanes."

"Double-decker buses, an iconic transportation option in London, 'have a lot of advantages,' Muni chief Nathaniel Ford told The Chronicle. Among them: They can hold a lot of people without taking up too much room on the congested streets and will be easier to maneuver through traffic and around corners than the long articulated buses."

"The test vehicle will be able to seat 80, with additional standing room."

"Disabled rights activists in the city already have raised concern that the stairs would prevent some riders with mobility impairments from accessing the top deck, which would amount to inequitable service. Ford said Muni is committed to addressing the concern in some fashion."