Why should the soundness of a bus's threshold be checked?

The soundness of a bus's threshold is crucial primarily for safety reasons. Checking the threshold helps to prevent trip hazards, ensuring that passengers can enter and exit the bus safely. A damaged or unstable threshold can lead to accidents, causing passengers to trip or fall, which poses significant safety risks, especially for individuals with mobility challenges, such as the elderly or disabled.

In terms of operational practices, maintaining a well-structured and secure entry and exit point enhances overall passenger experience, allowing for a smooth boarding and alighting process. This focus on safety takes precedence over other factors, such as aesthetic appeal, fuel efficiency, or market value, which, while important in their own contexts, do not directly impact the immediate safety of boarding and disembarking passengers.