Hong Kong Regulations

ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 74

Standing passengers

(1) The Commissioner shall on the registration of a bus calculate the total
number of standing passengers that may be carried on a single-decked bus or on
the lower deck of a double-decked bus by dividing the total floor area of that
deck, in square metres, available to standing passengers, by 0.17; such total
floor area shall not include-

   (a)  any space within 230 millimetres of the front of a seat required for
        the accommodation of seated passengers;

   (b)  that part of any gangway or any passage to an emergency exit which is
        within 230 millimetres of any step-well except where adequate means
        (such as a guard or screen) is provided to prevent passengers being
        thrown into such step-well;

   (c)  any step and any space within 230 millimetres of an entrance or exit,
        the space being measured from the outside of the bus and having the
        same width as the opening;

   (d)  any space forward of the rearmost point of the driver's seat;

   (e)  any space on which it is not possible to place a square of 300
        millimetres sides;

   (f)  any space not connected to a gangway, entrance or exit by space
        available to standing passengers; or

   (g)  in the case of a double-decked bus, any space within 230 millimetres
        of the riser of the bottom step of any staircase.

(2) In every bus, grab-rails, straps, stanchions or other devices of adequate
strength shall be so placed that at least one such means of support is
available to each standing passenger of normal height.

(3) The design and location of the devices referred to in paragraph

(2) shall have due regard to the effect of surge on a group of standing
passengers during abnormal deceleration of the bus, such as might occur during
any emergency stop.