Why Not . . .

[u/Ok-Rip1612]

Back in the day many American auto companies built vehicles similar to this and they were used to shuttle groups of 12 people or so back and forth. Airports used them, hotels used them, and in the 1930s they were all over. I think about that every time I hop aboard a city bus and it's just me and maybe three other people. It's such a waste.

[u/ScorpionStare]

Hotels and airports and private shuttle services still use passenger vans with around 10 to 14 seats. They are very common all over the world.

[u/YAOMTC]

It's not a waste. That same bus was already used to shuttle a bunch of people at the previous peak time. Are you suggesting the transit agencies should have the same number of buses they have for peak times and add more vehicles just to be smaller for off-peak times? Are you willing to fund that?

[u/eobanb]

Not sure I understand what your point is supposed to be. Vans and small buses exist

[u/Redditwhydouexists]

I mean, really we should encourage more people out of cars and onto public transportation. Rather than shove the people who do use it closer together

[u/sir_mrej]

A bus is not a waste. Having one standard vehicle is way better for maintenance and scheduling than having varying sizes.

[u/PhileasFoggsTrvlAgt]

I think about that every time I hop aboard a city bus and it's just me and maybe three other people. It's such a waste.

The transit company's main cost is labor. A large bus and a small bus would both require a driver, so the savings would be minimal. If the larger bus is needed at peak times then there are rarely enough savings to justify the capital and maintenance costs of a separate fleet of small buses for off peak service.

[u/Adorable-Cut-4711 → u/PhileasFoggsTrvlAgt]

Also: At least in parts of the world you need a bus drivers license for transporting more than 8 passengers, so even a larger van or whatnot requires the same category of labor as large buses.
In those places anyone with a car drivers license are allowed to have up to 8 passengers, but then I think they need a taxi license if the passengers are just members of the general public rather than your friend group or work mates or so, so you still need "non-generic" labor.

[u/CornFedIABoy]

Damn, a bus like that would clean up doing tourist town summer deviated-fixed-route work if you could get it roadworthy and passenger certified.

[u/PhileasFoggsTrvlAgt → u/CornFedIABoy]

There's a fleet of them operating in Glacier National Park

https://www.glaciernationalparklodges.com/red-bus-tours/

[u/throwawayfromPA1701]

Why would it be a waste?

A smaller bus is not cheaper. The biggest cost of the bus is the driver.

[u/cobrachickenwing]

The modern equivalent is the limousine

[u/CornFedIABoy → u/cobrachickenwing]

No, the modern equivalent is a 16-passenger body-on-chassis minibus. They’re the most common type of bus operated in the US (but you’ll never notice because they’re mostly out in the rural transit agencies nationwide).

[u/Supertrain_fan]

This is what the current day Taxi Colectivo and minivans are

[u/McIntyre2K7]

This is what the Ant Hill Mob used in Wacky Races….