In an attempt to get the most bus for its buck, the city is going to bid on 56 slightly used buses offered by Calgary Transit.

City council has authorized its transit department to submit a tender of up to $2 million for the Flyer and General Motors buses which will be sold to the highest bidder at the end of the month.

City transit director Rick Borland wouldn't disclose how many buses the city hopes to purchase. "That would be giving away our bid price."

Other sources indicate the average price of a used bus runs about $35,000 and up. Cost of buying a new bus is about $150,000 said Borland.

The transit department needs about 30 buses to replace worn out units this year, he said. It has only enough money in its replacement budget to buy about a dozen new buses.

Construction of Calgary's light rail transit system has reduced the need for buses. As a result it is selling a number of units with reasonably low mileage.

"Nothing is certain at this point," said Borland. It is possible "the city's bid won't be high enough to buy any of the units."

However, city councillors say they've been told the city probably won't have any trouble buying Calgary's stock of Flyer buses because other cities don't want them.

Although the province has urged the city to buy Manitoba products, it apparently has no objections to Winnipeg's foray into the used bus market.