Coach Drivers?

Question

On a bus, to close the door, it is electronic, and when closed a Passer by can walk up to it, and basically steal the bus.

Can Coaches be secured ?

Can you actually lock a coach's door, or can someone just walk up to it, press the button on the door and get in.

If so, how is the vehicle actually locked, is it a key or a remote fob, and isn't the door also opened electricly.

Post comments, answers, and suggestions below.

Gemini_DJ.

Answer 1

usually on a normal service bus you can't lock the doors - as they are just operated by a push button - usually air but you're correct the little mercedes minibuses are electronic

on coaches they usually have a key lockable button so you physically cannot press the button to open - however, if parked up for a long time - or the coach is really old - the air pressure will gradually die down and you can just push the door open.

To secure the door there is usually an "emergancy exit" style lock that you can operate by pulling out a pin - this will lock the door without requiring any air pressure - trouble is you're lock in! So like the other poster mentions - you have to jump out of the rear emergancy door then reach up and lock that one with a key!

BTW - were you thinking of stealing one then or something?!!!

Answer 2

Bus and coach doors are not operated electrically.  They are operated by compressed air as is the gearbox.  

When the driver leaves the bus/coach for any length of time he will switch off the air compressor inside the vehicle and leave by the emergency exit which is then locked.

In bus stations when the bus is only left for a short while, the air is evacuated from the system and then the bus is left (It's illegal to leave a bus running with no driver present).

If you were thinking of stealing one, you would have to run the engine until the air pressure builds up before you could engage gear and therefore would hopefully be caught before you did so!!

Answer 3

Hi. I can lock the handles on my coach but there is a dump-valve which releases the air from the pneumatic door system and makes the door open. It's in a secret place known only to coach drivers ;-) Don't try stealing one though, you'll end up on 'Cops With Cameras'. My coach is 15 years old though so new ones might be different ie: have fully locking doors, an immobiliser etc.

Answer 4

Coach doors open and close by buttons inside the cab, but usually there is also a pull handle on the outside of the door. This is then pulled to open the door, working in the same was as the buttons inside. All the times I've seen thise handles, they've always had a key hole, showing that the bus should be able to be locked using a standard key, like cars. As for service buses, they seem to be different, and do not appear to lock like a normal coach would. But I'm certain there's a way, as people would be stealing them all the time if not.

Answer 5

If no internal locking device is fitted, then a chain

and padlock inside or a block to jamb the door,

then leave by the fire exit if that has an external lock,

some do. I've seen it done.