Double-Decker Tour Buses Travel An Obstacle Course Through D.C.

Passengers riding in a double-decker sightseeing bus ducked and brushed aside low-hanging branches yesterday as they toured the District while hearing frequent recorded warnings to beware of "obstacles" such as tree limbs, electrical wires and bridges.

During a two-hour circuit of the city, a tree branch smacked John Freshwater in the left cheek as the bus operated by Open Top Sightseeing traveled toward the National Cathedral.

"I'll have to wear a helmet next time," the 63-year-old Florida resident said after rubbing his hand along his face and checking for blood.

Many passengers crouched as the bus traveled along Cleveland Avenue and P Street NW into Georgetown on stretches where branches hung low enough to touch. A tourist from Nashville, in town for the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority convention, hid behind the seat in front of her as branches whipped past just above her.

"I'll never get on the top level again," said the woman, who declined to provide her name as she got off the bus to visit the Lincoln Memorial. "I only have one head."

Periodically during the tour, between introductions of spectacular views and iconic monuments, a recorded announcement urged passengers to pay attention to "low obstacles such as trees, bridges, wires and other items."

"Please keep body parts inside the bus," the warning continued. "And don't stand up at any time while the vehicle is in motion."

The potential danger of riding on the top tier of a double-decker bus became clear a week ago when two passengers were killed after their heads struck an overpass along the Southeast Freeway. The victims, Joshua Stoll, 24, and Michael Feiock, 35, were on their way to a Washington Nationals game, riding on a bus owned by Open Top Sightseeing.

Open Top was running a shuttle between RFK Stadium and Nationals Park in Southeast, a route that is unlike the ones traveled by the company's drivers as they shepherd tourists across the city.

One of two companies operating double-decker buses in the District, Open Top has transported more than 200,000 passengers since opening in April 2007, according to Tom Alexander, the company's spokesman. The company runs 11 double-decker buses in Washington, as well as another fleet in San Francisco.

Besides last week's fatalities, which are the subject of a police investigation, Alexander said one Open Top passenger in the District has suffered a minor injury: a scratched face caused by a low-hanging tree limb.

"It's a great track record," he said. He described last week's fatal accident as a tragedy.