A minibus, microbus, or minicoach is a passenger-carrying

motor vehicle A motor vehicle, also known as a motorized vehicle, automotive vehicle, automobile, or road vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not operate on railway track, rails (such as trains or trams), does not fly (such ...

that is designed to carry more people than a multi-purpose vehicle or minivan, but fewer people than a full-size bus. In the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, the word "minibus" is used to describe any full-sized passenger-carrying van or

panel truck A panel truck (also called a panel delivery or pickup truck-based van) in U.S. and Canadian usage is a small delivery truck with a fully enclosed body. It typically is high and has no rear windows in the rear cargo area. The term was first used ...

. Minibuses have a

seating capacity Seating capacity is the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, in terms of both the physical space available and limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that ...

of between 12 and 30. Larger minibuses may be called

midibus A midibus is a classification of single-decker minibuses which are generally larger than a traditional minibus but smaller than a full-size single decker and can be anywhere between and long. While used in many parts of the world, the mi ...

es. Minibuses are typically front-engine step-in vehicles, although

low floor Low or LOW or lows, may refer to: People * Low (surname) Low is an English language, English and Languages of Scotland, Scottish surname. It is also a common surname found among Overseas Chinese language, Chinese communities around the world. ...

minibuses are particularly common in Japan.

History

It is unknown when the first minibus vehicle was developed. For example,

Ford Model T The Ford Model T is an automobile that was produced by the Ford Motor Company from October 1, 1908, to May 26, 1927. It is generally regarded as the first mass-affordable automobile, which made car travel available to middle-class Americans. Th ...

vehicles were modified for passenger transport by early bus companies and entrepreneurs. Ford produced a version during the 1920s to carry up to twelve people. In the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

, the production of minibuses began in the mid-1950s, among the first mass-produced minibuses were the RAF-10, UAZ-451B, and Start. Since September 1961, the RAF-977D "Latvia" minibus began to be mass-produced.

Regional variants

There are many different form of public transportation services around the world that are provided by using vehicles that can be considered as minibus: *Microbus in Guatemala *

Angkot A share taxi, shared taxi, taxibus, or jitney or dollar van in the US, or marshrutka in former Soviet countries, is a mode of transport which falls between a taxicab and a bus. Share taxis are a form of paratransit. They are vehicles for hire an ...

in Indonesia * Bas Mini in Malaysia * Chiva bus in Colombia and Ecuador *

Colectivo ''Colectivo'' ( English: collective bus) is the name given in Argentina to a type of public transportation vehicle, especially those of Argentina's capital city, Buenos Aires. The name comes from ''vehículos de transporte colectivo'' ("vehicl ...

in southern South America *Community bus (Japanese コミュニティバス ''komiunitibasu'') in Japan (Include minibus and

) *

Dala dala Dala dala are minibus share taxis in Tanzania.Thoughts On Dala Dala Buse ...

in Tanzania *

Dollar van A share taxi, shared taxi, taxibus, or jitney or dollar van in the US, or marshrutka in former Soviet countries, is a mode of transport which falls between a taxicab and a bus. Share taxis are a form of paratransit. They are vehicles for hire a ...

a.k.a. jitneys, in the United States. * in Turkey *Modern

Jeepney A jeepney (), or simply a jeep (), is a type of Public transport, public utility vehicle (PUV) that serves as the most popular means of Transportation in the Philippines, public transportation in the Philippines. Known for its crowded seating ...

in the Philippines *Maeul-bus (Korean 마을버스) in South Korea *

Marshrutka ''Marshrutnoye taksi''Matatu around Kenya *

Minibus taxi A share taxi, shared taxi, taxibus, or jitney or dollar van in the US, or marshrutka in former Soviet countries, is a mode of transport which falls between a taxicab and a bus. Share taxis are a form of paratransit. They are vehicles for hire a ...

in South Africa, Ethiopia, see also

Taxi wars in South Africa The term taxi war refer to the wikt:turf war, turf wars fought between taxi associations and individual Share taxi#South Africa, minibus taxi drivers in South Africa from the late 1980s to the present day. The multi-billion South African Rand ...

* Pesero, minibuses operating as regular buses in Mexico, especially in Mexico City. *

Public light bus The public light bus (PLB) or minibus is a public transport service in Hong Kong. It uses minibuses to provide quicker transport and to serve areas that standard Hong Kong bus lines cannot reach as efficiently. The vehicles are colloquially k ...

es, in Hong Kong. *

Sherut A share taxi, shared taxi, taxibus, or jitney or dollar van in the US, or marshrutka in former Soviet countries, is a mode of transport which falls between a taxicab and a bus. Share taxis are a form of paratransit. They are vehicles for hire an ...

in Israel * Songthaew around Thailand and Lao * Tap tap in Haiti *

Tro tro A share taxi, shared taxi, taxibus, or jitney or dollar van in the US, or marshrutka in former Soviet countries, is a mode of transport which falls between a taxicab and a bus. Share taxis are a form of paratransit. They are vehicles for hire an ...

around Ghana *

Weyala A weyala () is a conductor who receives fares on minibus share taxis in Ethiopia. He also has the duty of informing potential passenger A passenger is a person who travels in a vehicle, but does not bear any responsibility for the tasks ...

in Ethiopia

Driving licence

Some countries may require an additional class of

driving licence A driver's license, driving licence, or driving permit is a legal authorization, or the official document confirming such an authorization, for a specific individual to operate one or more types of motorized vehicles—such as motorcycles, car ...

over a normal private car licence, and some may require a full commercial driving licence. The need for such a licence may depend on: *Vehicle weight or size *Seating capacity *Driver age *Intended usage *Additional training (such as the Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme in the UK) In the UK: The holder of an ordinary car driving licence which was obtained prior to January 1997, once aged 21 years minimum, may drive a Minibus with a capacity of 16 passengers. Where the "ordinary car driving licence" is obtained after December 1996, they will have to take a separate test to drive a vehicle with a capacity of more than 8 passengers. However, there is an exemption for certain volunteer drivers, where the vehicle does not exceed 3500 kg GVW (or 4250 kg GVW if the vehicle is designed to be wheelchair accessible). A driving licence issued in

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, Canada, for an equivalent of a UK class B or class B-auto driving licence (in the case of Ontario, a class G licence), allows its holder to drive vehicles with:
11 tonnes maximum authorized mass, including trailers with 4.6 tonnes MAM
6 tonnes MAM in certain cases) *passenger seating capacity o
9 or less
Anyone wanting to drive a vehicle in Ontario, with the same MAM limits as for class G vehicles, with fewer than 25, but at least 10, passenger seats, must obtain a bus licence. This will allow, for example, its holder to drive 12- and 15-passenger vans] that

Transport Canada Transport Canada () is the Ministry (government department), department within the Government of Canada responsible for developing regulations, Policy, policies and Public services, services of road, rail, marine and air Transport in Canada, tra ...

defines as large passenger vans.

References

{{Authority control Buses by type

History

Regional variants

Driving licence

See also

References