New York City's transit agencies have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to convert older buses or buy new buses that comply with environmental standards.

Some large operators have in the past also converted retired buses into tow bus vehicles, to act as tow trucks.

Garages may also contain recovery vehicles, often converted buses, although their incidence has declined with the use of contractors to recover break-downs, and the increase in reliability.

Some companies convert buses into limousines and even include a dance floor or karaoke system.

"Chapel-Truck Initiative" converts second-hand buses owned by the Dutch railways into mobile churches.

Commercial technology exists to convert cars, buses and trucks to natural gas.

To help rural migrants get city jobs, the Mayor converted old buses into mobile classrooms where adults study to become typists, seamstresses, electricians and auto mechanics.

A program to convert buses, garbage trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles to natural gas and methanol is going much better, he said.

Steps were taken to convert other buses to diesel fuel.

There are no plans to convert newer buses.