A Look Back At The Absolute Best Buses From The ’90s
The 1990s gave pop culture plenty of famous cars, but buses had a surprisingly strong decade of their own. A great bus could carry heroes, save the day, teach science, or become the center of an entire story. Looking back, these vehicles left a much bigger mark on the decade than most people realized. Here are 10 buses that helped define the era.
The Magic School Bus
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Children across North America spent the 1990s riding along with this famous yellow bus on PBS. The Magic School Bus starred in the educational television series of the same name, which debuted in 1994 and was based on Joanna Cole’s bestselling books. Driven by Ms. Frizzle, the bus traveled through space, explored the ocean, and even journeyed through the human body while teaching science lessons.
Bus 2525 From Speed
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
One of the most famous buses in movie history came from the 1994 action thriller Speed. Bus 2525 was a Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority bus that became the center of the film’s plot after someone rigged it to explode if its speed dropped below 50 miles per hour. Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock spent much of the movie trying to keep their passengers alive.
The Vengabus
Credit: Youtube
The Vengabus was named after the Dutch Eurodance group Vengaboys, whose 1998 hit We Like to Party became an international success. The bus appeared in music videos and concerts. It represented the carefree party atmosphere that defined much of late-1990s dance music.
The Catbus
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Japan contributed one of the most unusual buses of the decade through Studio Ghibli’s animated film My Neighbor Totoro. The Catbus was a giant cat that also functioned as public transportation for forest spirits and children in need of help. American audiences became familiar with it during the 1990s as the film gained popularity outside Japan.
Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert
Credit: IMDb
Australian cinema produced one of the decade’s most recognizable buses in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The silver tour bus carried three people across the Australian outback as they traveled between performances. The vehicle faced breakdowns, rough roads, and harsh desert conditions.
The Jordan Cruiser
Credit: ebay
Baseball fans got a close look at this bus during Michael Jordan’s brief baseball career. The Jordan Cruiser transported the Birmingham Barons, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, during the 1994 season. The coach featured luxury touches, including televisions and a lounge area. Its colorful teal-and-purple design also captured a classic 1990s aesthetic.
Desert Bus
Credit: Ars Technica
Desert Bus was created for the unreleased Sega CD title Penn & Teller’s Smoke and Mirrors. The game challenged players to drive a bus between Tucson, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The trip lasted about eight hours in real time and required constant attention. It was designed as a joke about boring video games, but eventually became famous through annual charity fundraising streams.
The Cruis’n USA School Bus
Credit: Youtube
Arcade visitors found this bus inside Cruis’n USA, a racing game developed by Midway and released in arcades during the mid-1990s. Players could unlock a yellow school bus as a secret vehicle. It lacked the speed and handling of sports cars, but its sheer size made it entertaining to drive.
The Spicebus
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Spicebus served as the Spice Girls’ rolling headquarters during their rise to global fame. It was styled as a double-decker bus with a wildly oversized interior, which reflected the group’s playful image. The bus achieved legendary status during a scene where it jumped across London’s Tower Bridge. The stunt looked ridiculous then and still does today.
Jerome “The Bus” Bettis
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Not every famous bus had wheels. Jerome Bettis earned the nickname “The Bus” while starring in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams and later the Pittsburgh Steelers. Standing 5-foot-11 and weighing around 250 pounds during his playing career, Bettis became known for carrying defenders downfield. He finished with 13,662 rushing yards and won Super Bowl XL before retiring.