From the very first VW Bus that rolled off of the lines, the VW Bus has always had nicknames from its proud owners. Some of the most popular nicknames were Bully, Hippie Van, VW Bus, and simply The Bus.
The VW Bus was meant to officially start out as The Bully, but Heinrich Lanz, the producer of the Lanz Bulldog farm tractor, objected. The VW Bus was then released being known as the VW Transporter and VW Kleinbus, but in the end, the name Bully still caught on. The German model names of Transporter and Kombi (combined use vehicle) are also popular nicknames.
Kombi is not only the nickname of the passenger VW Bus, but it is also a term in Australia, Asia, and Brazil for the whole Type 2 family. This is a pretty similar pattern to the way that the VW Bus family is called VW Bus in Germany. Even the pick up truck models are nicknamed that same thing.
In Mexico, the Kombi was translated as Combi and became a very common vehicle in Mexico, thanks to the public transportations systems heavy use of the VW Bus. In Peru, where they also called the vehicle a Combi, the term Murdering Combi was often used for the VW Bus and also for others that are similar in size.
The whole reason that they are nicknamed this is because of the recklessness of Lima bus drivers to get to their passengers. In Portugal, the VW Bus is affectionately named the Breadloaf because of its designs resemblance to a bread that is baked in a mold. In Denmark, the VW Bus is referred to as Rye Bread. The Finns have named the VW Bus the Kleinbus or the mini bus, because many taxi cab companies and transportation companies have adopted it for groups of people and their transportation needs. As a result, the name Kleinbus has become the general nickname for any and all passenger vans there.
In the United States, the VW Bus has earned the nicknames of vee dub, hippie mobile, hippie bus, hippie van, and combie. Also, they are known here as a microbus or sometimes even a transporter. The earliest versions of the VW Bus had a split front windshield, earning those models the nickname Splitty. These models are now rare, prized collectors items. The next version which was sold in the country from 1968 to 1979 had a large, curved windshield and was commonly called a bay window. It was replaced by the Vanagon, and the Westfalia camper version that has a common nickname of Westy.
In South Africe, the VW Bus is called a Volksie Bus, and is prominent in many South African commercials. Kombi is also a generic nickname for vans and mini buses there. In the United Kingdom, the VW Bus is known as a Hippy Van, a Vdub, or a Campervan.

Tips for your Safety While Riding Public Transport

While millions of people ride on public Transportation every day is a good idea to always stay alert. If you are a women having a personal alarm or pepper spray for protection is not a bad idea. I know that while you want to sleep make sure you protect what is yours.

Safety on the Train

* Never get on the last car you need to stay with other people just in case. The last car is away from everything mostly people.

* Keep all your personal items next to you on your lap or if standing makes sure you have your back to the wall of the train.

* Always check to see where the emergency cord id or any help button should you ever need it you won’t have to get crazy to find it. I do this in most nightclubs or hotels. I never want to be in a place I don’t know how to get out should I need to.

*While on the train make sure you wait where other people are don’t go to the side where no one is.

* If you feel like something is not safe wait for a stop that is busy and get off or change your seat. Please don’t get off at a stop that no one is at. If someone were to follow you, you would be alone.

Bus Stop Safety Tips

* Know when the bus is coming don’t go to the bus stop at night and just wait you could be their along time.

* Go to a bus stop that has other people waiting.

Safety in a cab

* When calling the cab ask for the drivers name so when you get in ask them what their name is just for a little extra protection.

* Its a good idea to have your money and keys ready when the cab arrives you don’t want to go into you bag while driving.

* If your gut tells you to get out just ask the driver to pull over on a busy street and get out. The worst that could happen is you have to walk a little its better then becoming a victim.

If you travel on public transportation allot you know most this. Its always a good idea to be ready just in case have a pepper spray or a personal alarm on you key chain or in your bag make sure it is not in the bottom of you bag so you can’t find it. It is of no use to you if you can’t find it when you need it most.

While millions of people ride on public Transportation every day is a good idea to always stay alert. If you are a women having a personal alarm or pepper spray for protection is not a bad idea. I know that while you want to sleep make sure you protect what is yours.

Safety on the Train

* Never get on the last car you need to stay with other people just in case. The last car is away from everything mostly people.

* Keep all your personal items next to you on your lap or if standing make sure you have your back to the wall of the train.

* Always check to see where the emergency cord id or any help button should you ever need it you won’t have to get crazy to find it. I do this in most nightclubs or hotels. I never want to be in a place I don’t know how to get out should I need to.

*While on the train make sure you wait where other people are don’t go to the side where no one is.

* If you feel like something is not safe wait for a stop that is busy and get off or change your seat. Please don’t get off at a stop that no one is at. If someone were to follow you, you would be alone.

The Bus Stop

* Know when the bus is coming don’t go to the bus stop at night and just wait you could be their along time.

* Go to a bus stop that has other people waiting.

Safety in a cab

* When calling the cab ask for the drivers name so when you get in ask them what their name is just for a little extra protection.

* Its a good idea to have your money and keys ready when the cab arrives you don’t want to go into you bag while driving.

* If your gut tells you to get out just ask the driver to pull over on a busy street and get out. The worst that could happen is you have to walk a little its better then becoming a victim.

If you travel on public transportation allot you know most this. Its always a good idea to be ready just in case have a pepper spray or a personal alarm on you key chain or in your bag make sure it is not in the bottom of you bag so you can’t find it. It is of no use to you if you can’t find it when you need it most.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 25 million students are in school with an average of 500,000 school buses on the roads. While school buses are statistically one of the safest modes of transportation, more than twice as many children are killed while getting on or off school buses than while riding in them. Preventable School Bus Accident

A 12-year-old girl was hit by a school bus in a South New Jersey middle school parking lot. She was walking across the parking lot which had no designated lines for pedestrian paths and no cross walks. She was run over by the rear tire of a school bus as it came around a loop. She suffered multiple fractures and serious internal injuries.

The bus driver was not faulted. The girl was walking between two cars.

At fault was the school district for failing to provide a parking lot with visibly designated markings; failing to provide appropriate cross walks; and failing to provide a school safety plan for bus arrivals and departures.

“This case, on first blush, appeared to be one of a careless child darting out between parked cars and running into the side of a bus, causing her own injuries”, states Larry Cohan, counsel for the victim.

“After careful analysis, and expert review, it became apparent that this child was a victim of bad planning and bad design by her school. Had there been proper crosswalks, a safety plan and supervision, this child would not have even been crossing where she was, and the incident would not have occurred. The irresponsible school officials, who created this danger, were clearly negligent, and the school was required to pay for their failures.”

The girl received a substantial settlement. Through extensive medical care and physical therapy, she is recovering.

School budget and school districts in many states are frequently in dire straits and are forced to make choices in how their limited funds are expended. Somehow the important issue of school bus safety goes to the back of the bus and doesn’t get addressed.

School Bus Safety Problems

In 2002, 26 children were killed as pedestrians getting on or off a school bus, or while waiting at the school bus stop. Other motorists illegally passing a stopped school bus remain a problem in every community and the school bus industry urges stricter police and judicial enforcement against violators.

School buses always are operated by drivers with a Commercial Drivers License (CDL), required by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and who have received special school bus driver training required by states. In addition, no one can drive a school bus without first passing drug and alcohol screening and required law enforcement background checks.

There is no safer way to transport a child than in a school bus. Fatal crashes involving school bus occupants are rare events, even though school buses drive a remarkable 8.8 billion students to and from school annually. Every school day, some 500,000 yellow school buses transport more than 25 million children to and from schools mostly without a serious incident.