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

Citing the police investigation, Alexander declined to provide information about the accident, including the driver's identity. However, he said that Open Top had been operating the shuttle service to Nationals games since June 27 and that no other incidents had occurred on the trips.

The Nationals have promoted the courtesy shuttles since the season began. Initially, all the buses were luxury coaches. Team executives have declined to comment on why the double-decker buses were used and whether the route from RFK had been checked to make sure the buses could pass safely. Team spokesmen have declined to answer any questions related to the accident.

As part of the investigation, police are talking to 14 other passengers who were on the top deck of the bus last Friday night. They have measured the 11th Street bridge -- the overpass where the collision occurred -- and determined it is 14 feet 9 inches above the ground, according to city officials.

The bus involved in the shuttle accident is 13 feet high, the officials said. If the bus had been six inches higher, the officials said, a special height permit would have been required, and then the city would have had a say about what streets and routes it could travel.

Open Top has suspended its shuttles to Nationals games, but it continues to operate sightseeing tours.

In its recorded message played on the buses yesterday, Open Top informs passengers that they are "sitting 14 feet up in the air," even though the company's own design renderings indicate that the height is 12 feet 11 inches.

In explaining the discrepancy, Alexander said that the announcer had made a mistake and that the company is planning to correct it.

The company is careful about choosing which streets to travel in the city, he said. The low-hanging branches and wires are on a small portion of the tour, which begins at Union Station and travels through Chinatown, Dupont Circle, Woodley Park and Georgetown and along the Mall.

After the passenger's face was scratched last year, Alexander said, "We took it upon ourselves to go through the route and trim the branches."

William Morrow, executive director of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission, which regulates tour buses, said Open Top should evaluate its routes "and make sure there's enough clearance for the vehicle and passengers who may be standing."

Alexander said such a review is underway.

In some spots along the tour, pruning is clearly needed. On Tuesday, for example, Stacey Feighan, visiting from New York, grabbed a branch to keep it from striking her on Garfield Street NW.

The next day, a boy in a baseball cap reached up to pull leaves off another branch.

As the bus headed into Georgetown yesterday, the announcement advised the passengers, "Do enjoy the charming houses. And watch out for the trees."

As new passengers got on the bus, a ticket-taker instructed them to fasten their seat belts. However, during a tour Wednesday, another ticket-taker made no mention of the seat belts during the entire ride.

Even as they bobbed up and down, most passengers appeared to view the intermittent obstacle course as an adventure.

"I've got enough common sense, if I see a limb coming, I duck," said Joe Culbert, visiting from Alabama, after spending several long moments hunching over.

His wife, Nancy, holding a battery-operated fan to her face, was unfazed. She said she was pleased to return for her second ride in as many days.

"I'm getting fantastic pictures," she said.

Rick Marek, 61, an engineer from Chesterfield, Va., said the danger is minimal as long as passengers listen to the announcements.

"They've got plenty of warnings," he said. "It's pretty obvious that if you stand up, you're going to get hurt."

Staff writer Daniel LeDuc contributed to this report.