What is NOT included in the definition of a bus?

The identification of the correct answer relates to how a bus is defined in the context of vehicle classifications. In Pennsylvania, and generally in transportation regulations, a bus is typically characterized by its purpose and capacity to transport passengers.

A vehicle designed for ridesharing arrangements is not included in the traditional definition of a bus as it does not specifically indicate a capacity for a set number of passengers or a designated purpose related to public or commercial passenger transportation. Ridesharing vehicles, such as those in use for services like Uber or Lyft, usually accommodate fewer passengers and are often not constructed or regulated as buses.

In contrast, vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including those for school children, form part of the established definitions for buses due to their intended use in public transport, either for general passenger transit or specifically for school activities. Similarly, vehicles designed to carry up to 15 passengers for compensation are classified differently, yet they also fall outside the more expansive definition of what constitutes a bus, being more closely tied to smaller transport services rather than mass public transport.

By understanding the regulatory definitions, it is easier to see why ridesharing arrangements do not align with the defined criteria for buses, which are aimed at larger-scale transportation purposes.