The City of Turlock in California, one of the worst hit-regions in the US, is installing air cleaning devices in bus fleet to reduce driver exposure to Covid-19. The city will become the first in California to install air cleaning devices across its entire operational bus fleet, as it looks to protect its drivers from the risk of airborne transmission of coronavirus.
Operator Turlock Transit plans to install 20 AirLabs AirBubbl air cleaning devices in the driver cabins of its buses. The AirBubbl removes more than 95% of airborne viruses and contaminated particulate matter and floods the driver area with over 30,000 litres of clean air every hour, creating a clean air breathing zone for the driver to keep drivers safe.
California ranks as the state with the worst air quality in the US, and Airlabs says its AirBubbl is equally effective at removing air pollution, including harmful ozone gases, nitrogen dioxide (NOx) and particle air pollutants PM2.5 and PM10, and will continue to play a vital role in protecting drivers long after the pandemic has passed. Marc Ottolini, CEO of London-based AirLabs, which has R&D labs in Copenhagen and also operates from offices in Santa Monica, Boca Raton and Singapore, said: “California is the epicentre of the Covid-19 crisis in the US, and keeping public transit safe and operational during this time is crucial for ensuring that the public can continue to travel safely.
“Professional drivers are one of the most at-risk groups from Covid-19 and forward thinking public transit operators across the world are deploying our innovative air cleaning technology to cut the risk of infection for drivers, protect them against air pollution and keep services running.”
AirLabs has also developed a new air cleaning device for the passenger cabins of public transport, including bus and rail. AirLabs AiroSafe is designed to remove airborne virus particles from the passenger cabins of public transport, by creating a personal clean air zone for every seat. The company aims to install the first AiroSafe units early this year and is currently setting up strategic partnerships with public transport manufacturers and operators.
Wayne York, Transit Manager at Turlock Transit, said: “California faces a huge health challenge both from Covid-19 and from harmful air pollution. These issues are particularly prevalent in the Central Valley and can’t be ignored.
“Rider and driver safety is our number one priority and we have implemented a range of safety measures across our fleet to keep our services safe for all. By installing the AirBubbl in our fleet, we are continuing to enhance the safety of our services and protect our drivers and passengers.”
Turlock Transit provides fixed route and ADA paratransit (dial-a-ride) services in the city of Turlock, as well as dial-a-ride services to the community of Denair.
