By Dave Millhouser

On curves ahead / Remember, sonny / That rabbit's foot / Didn't save / The bunny / Burma-Shave

In ye olden days, bus passengers depended on road signs for entertainment and information as they cruised the highways. Burma-Shaves signs added an element of fun and a bit of wisdom to travel.

Times and technology have changed, and many coach operators offer several forms of entertainment to help time pass pleasantly. Stereos, satellite radio and video systems all have found a home in our industry, to the point where customers expect them.

A new wrinkle is the addition of WiFi (wireless internet) service. For the uninitiated, this jewel allows your customers to access the internet from their laptop computers while the coach is frolicking down the road.

The beauty of WiFi service is that it allows passengers to fill their time as they see fit -- working, communicating or just surfing the web. For some, its productive time, for others a pleasant distraction. No one is forced to watch a movie they dont like or listen to music that doesnt fit their taste.

The WiFi hardware cost is pretty reasonable (in the world of coach options).

Depending on whistles and bells, the range is $5,000 to $10,000 per coach. The actual "stuff" is small, and generally easy to install, no problem even in smaller buses.

Essentially it is a little broadcast/receiver that communes with WiFi-enabled computers, and then talks to the internet via a different, more powerful radio hookup.

Once the system is installed, the hardware requires minimal maintenance, but youll pay monthly for the service itself. Generally the provider will use either cell phone towers, satellite, or a combination that switches as needed. The more comprehensive the system, the more youll pay.

Some things to consider (arent there always?): Youll buy the hardware and service as a package. Like cell phones, some services have geographical areas where they are stronger.

Pick one that excels in the areas you travel most. This is critical if youre crossing international borders. If your system has a lengthy conversation, which isnt apparent at the time, with a foreign system, hefty roaming charges may turn up. This is true of cell phones, too, but the phones usually have a visual way of knowing youve left home.

If you cant be absolutely sure youre not transporting minors, youre going to need a "porn filter." Rough, tough coal miners can handle anything, but you dont want to be accused of providing a child with an inappropriate biology lesson, just because the child sat next to the wrong adult, and took a peek at the computer screen.

It might be wise to have a policy requiring web surfers to use headsets if theyre accessing sound files -- to assure their neighbors privacy.

Youll want a good "disclaimer," too, for folks signing onto your service, so youre not stuck for any identity or data theft on what is, necessarily, an unsecured network. You dont want to be responsible for one passenger stealing anothers credit card numbers, or some hacker tailgating your coach, in a VW microbus, sucking up your customers info.

One major coach operator discovered WiFi was a huge selling point to student and business travelers, but to be really effective it had to provide 110-volt current to run battery chargers. This company is in the process of retrofitting a number of coaches, but it would have saved money by having the inverter installed at the outset.

Before investing in a system, think about what sort of services you provide. Line-run passengers and commuters love WiFi because theyre generally travelling alone, and are looking to fill their time constructively. Charter-and-tour folks may not want or need constant internet access. Theyre a "group" and may prefer group entertainment.

Students are a mixed bag. They COULD be using their computers to do schoolwork, but many arent going to bother.

In other words, before you make the leap, poll your clientele to see how much internet access means to them, and equip your fleet accordingly. TRY to make this a service you can charge for.

Since your driver shouldnt use Wifi while driving, Burma-Shave can still help:

Proper / Distance / To him was bunk / They pulled him out / Of some guy's trunk / Burma-Shave

And if youre travelling on a coach with WiFi try: http://www.fiftiesweb.com/burma1.htm.

Dave Millhouser is a bus industry marketing consultant and freelance writer. Contact him at dave_millhouser@hotmail.com.