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City Sightseeing is a global excursion sightseeing bus tour operator, formed by Ensignbus and the Spanish company Hispalense de Tranvías, which operates tour bus services globally. Typically, the tours are operated by open top double-decker buses. The tourist attraction bus travels near all major landmarks around the town or city it tours, and pre-recorded or live commentary in many languages is provided through small headphones. Users may leave the bus and board again without limit (so called ''hop-on hop-off'') at special bus stops on a circle route. In large cities, buses go on more than one route. On some routes buses leave the city for suburban sights (such as from Sintra to Cabo da Roca). In some cities (such as New York) buses operate even at night. In some cities (such as Prague) some variants of the ride include travelling by boat. City Sightseeing buses are recognisable due to their red livery. A free map of the route for each city is offered as guide and advertisement. Usually the tickets issues for the one-day and (reduced) two-days rides. Tickets may be purchases at places or (with some discount) online in the internet. Tickets and discount offers are transferable between the worldwide tours. In some cities, rides by City Sightseeing are included in city's guest card. In 2011, annual rides were near 13 million tourists. In California, officials have raised safety concerns about City Sightseeing tours, after various irregularities and a major crash in San Francisco in 2015. ==Company history== The City Sightseeing name was first used in 1972, when Peter Newman used it for a pair of ex-Standerwick 'Gay Hostess' Leyland Atlanteans on his City Coach Lines company which ran tours of London four times daily. In 1998, Ensignbus revived the name and developed the red livery in the Spanish city of Seville, where it helped an established sightseeing operator relaunch itself with double-deckers using the experience and expertise developed with London Pride Sightseeing, and links forged through the sale of open top buses around the world through Ensigbus' vehicle business. It did the same in Sydney, Australia.〔(About City Sightseeing ) City Sightseeing〕 With the sale of London Pride Sightseeing in 1998, Peter Newman and Enrique Ybarra stated their intention to introduce a global brand of sightseeing buses, and City Sightseeing was launched at the World Travel Market in 1999. In March 2000, the franchise model was initiated, with tours starting in Glasgow (Scotguide) and Canberra (Transborder Express). Startup operations would comprise a British manager until local staff were trained. In 2000, operations expanded in the UK in York, Edinburgh, and Bath, with Edinburgh's Lothian Buses introducing the first purpose built open top low floor buses. In 2001, operations expanded further in the UK, Spain, and Australia, and into Copenhagen, Denmark. In 2002, operations in Alberta, Canada opened, and expanded in the UK. In 2003, operations started in Italy. In December 2000, the online booking system was introduced. In May 2002, City Sightseeing acquired its biggest rival Guide Friday which had a base in Stratford-upon-Avon and operated tours across the UK and in major European cities. Operations were either rebranded as City Sightseeing or absorbed into existing operators where Guide Friday had been a direct competitor. The acquisition brought City Sightseeing's operations up to nearly 70 cities worldwide with nearly 250 vehicles. In 2003, City Sightseeing introduced the first purpose built sightseeing buses, Ayats Bravo City bodied Volvo B7Ls, featuring equipment specifically for tours and also being low floor, first in Spain and then into the UK and around the world in 2004. In Singapore, it has been part of Singapore Ducktours Limited since 2004. Ensignbus owned the operations in Bath, Cardiff Eastbourne and Windsor until its subsidiary, Bath Bus Company, was sold to the RATP Group in February 2011.〔(The History of Ensignbus ) Ensignbus〕〔(Tour de France: city bus firm bought by European business ) ''Bath Chronicle'' 2 March 2011〕〔(RATP Dev announces the acquisition of the Original Tour ) RATP Group 11 September 2014〕 It also owned the operation in Cambridge and Stratford-upon-Avon but these passed to Stagecoach, who also provide normal bus services in that area. In 2011, Ensignbus sold the business to the Spanish franchisee Enrique Ybarra's City Sightseeing Worldwide of Spain.〔(Ensignbus sells City Sightseeing ) Focus News〕 Ensignbus retained ownership of City Sightseeing in Sydney,〔( City Sightseeing – Banksmeadow ) Australian Bus Fleet Lists〕 its interest in City Sightseeing Italy and increased its share holding in City Sightseeing in Washington. Sydney now operates as Sydney Explorer with all other Australian franchises operating under the Explorer brand except Melbourne which operates as City Sightseeing. The Mornington Peninsula Melbourne service which commenced 1 November 2014, ceased 25 January 2015.〔(Losses bring tourist bus to an early halt ) Mornington Peninsula News 26 January 2015〕 As at November 2014, City Sightseeing had operations in over 100 cities in 32 countries.〔(City Sightseeing showcases its newest operation in Dubai in its fifteenth WTM attendance in a row ) City Sightseeing 12 November 2014〕 In November 2015, a City Sightseeing bus injured 20 people in a crash at Union Square, San Francisco, reportedly due to failed brakes, according to the driver. A city official questioned the safety of City Sightseeing tours, and the California Public Utilities Commission released a statement describing various irregularities and problems with City Sightseeing, including multiple permit suspensions since 2007 due to security infractions.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「City Sightseeing」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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