The air in buses recycles in the cabin and then flows to the front carrying bacteria and viruses with it.  EVERY OPERATOR should use these AIR CONTROL SETTINGS to create safer airflow in their vehicles. Also,
where temporary barriers have been installed, these settings will INCREASE effectiveness.
1. Driver’s window CLOSED
2. Driver’s air and front vents set to FRESH
3. Blowers on FULL POWER in Front (wear earplugs)
4. Passenger windows CLOSED
5. Front roof hatch CLOSED
6. Blowers OFF in back
7. Rear roof hatch OPEN at its back
8. REAR DOOR Boarding
When a bus is moving forward it creates reversed airflow in the cabin bringing viral particles into the
driver’s workstation and out through the driver’s window and other air leaks. We can protect drivers
who are currently at the wrong end of that flow with simple changes to air control settings.

Status Quo Creates Dangerous flow with recycled and very poorly filtered air. That is why the blowers
should be shut off in back with the rear roof hatch open. Recycling also aerosolizes respiratory particles,
creating small viral particles that stay in the air, putting passengers and operators at risk.

Implementation of Barriers Vastly Improves Air Flow Quality. The suggested air control settings with
properly designed barriers are even more effective and will bring fresh air through the front and expel it at the rear of the bus, eliminating the recirculation of viral particles and reduce infection risk for transit workers and passengers. ATU International is working with engineers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and
the University of Washington Aerodynamics Department to design barrier prototypes for common
bus designs. Temporary barriers can help tremendously, and semi-permanent design plans will be distributed
soon.  A semi-permanent barrier design is approaching completion at the Toronto Transit Commission.