A hot dog stand, a hunting cabin, a veterinarian's office that makes house calls — even a gourmet kitchen on wheels. Those are just a few of the uses of Mobile Instructional Units (MIUs), custom-manufactured vehicles originally produced for government use as mobile classrooms. Since New York Bus Service, a Bronx NY-based transportation company, recently placed this 135-piece fleet on the market, others are devising various uses for them, according to company president Jim O'Reilly.
Originally, New York Bus Service operated the MIUs for the New York City Board of Education. Until recently, the board had to comply with court-ordered remedial instruction at parochial schools without violating court-ordered separation of church-owned property and state-paid educators. The mobile classrooms were parked outside parochial schools so students could receive instruction from public school teachers off-site.
The vehicle's interior is 30 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 7 feet high, and equipped with fluorescent lighting, heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation, all powered by a separate diesel generator. Other features include automatic transmission; 60-gallon fuel tank; three entrance doors each with windows, auxiliary pull-out, non-slip steps, and hand-guide rails; five windows with screens and retractable sun shades; four duplex electrical outlets for on-board 110-volt service; and a retractable projection screen, dry marker board, and four 5-lb fire extinguishers.
One entrepreneur converted an MIU into a hot dog stand. Another plans to park it outside the Super Bowl to tout his new Internet service. An optometrist parks it outside prisons and factories to do exams and eyeglass fittings. Another person put it on his property in upstate New York for weekend hunting excursions. An upscale food service firm transformed it into a gourmet kitchen that supplies on-location movie companies. A veterinarian uses it to make house calls. A make-up artist has converted it into a studio on wheels. They are also being used for corporate training by a major software provider. A uniform salesman has transformed it into a mobile fitting room, parking his MIU outside businesses and private and parochial schools.
After the events of Sept 11, 2001, demand has risen for these MIUs by government, security, and relief agencies, including the American Red Cross and local law enforcement and fire departments, as well as corporations planning to use them for hazardous material training, command and communications centers, and mobile disaster relief units. A major corporation is even considering using it as an off-site mail-sorting center. Of course, others have been purchased to fill traditional needs: mobile health units for hospitals, recruitment and training offices, on-site construction and used-car offices, library book mobiles — and yes, mobile classrooms. In addition, the exterior affords the user an opportunity for advertising.
Depending on the model, the current average price range is between $18,000 and $35,000. For information on purchasing the MIUs, phone Craig Baker at 718-823-5420.