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Does anyone have any other insight? The origins of the term 'Bus' has interested me for sometime.

While I do not believe that this origin of the term can be proven without dispute: a friend of mine who was a paramedic for many years asserted that origin of the term 'bus' as applied to ambulances rose from the practice of large cities to treat very minor 'first aid' ambulance cases in the back of the ambulance and then give the patient a bus token to take themselves to the hospital.

This was a function of low staffing levels and no doc in the box resources back in the day- only the ER existed after normal business hours and private hospitals took indigent patients

. I know this bus token practice was in intact in San Francisco until the late 1990's when the Paramedics were part of the health department (but later became part of SFFD and as far as I know it is no longer practiced).


Also unaware of any other west coast city that did this, but am told that it was very common on the east coast back in the day.

Clearly, bus is a PD coined term prolly originating from NYPD but no doubt the east coast as it does not appear in any vernacular of any PD on the west coast that I am aware of. I am told by NYPD friends that this practice was heavily exploited by both folks that needed a ride and the police seeking alternate disposition other than arrest (sticky booger cases).

Does any one here have any additional or contrary insight into the etymology of the term bus as applied to ambulances?

Mike

No.

Side-note:
When I was employed at WSR, and when a prisoner was released, he got a ride to the bus stop.
In front of a 7-11 and across the street from a liquor store.



Hobie.

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That is a very respectable answer, Thank you.

Out the gate by 8, in the spoon by noon, on the run by 1, back in heaven by 7.

And now the cycle is complete.

Hope you are haveing the time of your life up their.

Best,
Mike

The words are to big.

Side note:
Guess what happened at the oil slick North of Francis @ NSC?
I think DoT calls it a "turn-a bout".
It involved two wheels, me, asphalt, and not my boots.




Kepp yur hands in plane site.

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Stick with your horse, and make sure his name isn't "Buck".

No kidding.

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