Public transit agencies and tour companies on O'ahu, Maui and the Big Island will be trying out a new double-decker bus in the coming weeks to see if it has a place in their fleets.

The "Enviro," made by Britain-based Alexander Dennis Inc., is the enclosed version of the company's open-top double deck buses operated in Europe, Hong Kong and Las Vegas.

Government officials, tour company executives and others got to "kick the tires" of the Enviro Monday at the 12th Pacific Bus Expo organized by local bus dealer Soderholm Sales and Leasing Inc.

"Right now, we're demonstrating the bus with Travel Plaza Transportation. After that, we'll do a demonstration for O'ahu Transit Services, which runs TheBus for the city," said Denise Soderholm, vice president and controller of Soderholm.

"Then it's over to Maui and then to the Big Island. We'll see what routes it works on and what routes it doesn't work on."

The Enviro currently is built in the U.K., but Alexander Dennis has signed a deal with ElDorado National, a U.S. company, to build the double-decker buses in Riverside, Calif. The first buses are scheduled to come off the production line this summer.

The deal will allow Alexander Dennis to meet "Buy American" requirements for government spending for its 33 dealerships across the United States and Canada, broadening its sales and marketing opportunities in North America.

More than 230 people turned out for this year's expo at the Pacific Club that featured 16 vehicles, including tour buses, school buses and vehicles for riders with disabilities.

Soderholm said the company, which has been in business in Honolulu since 1989, launched the bus show so transit agencies and other local buyers wouldn't have to travel to Mainland shows to try out the latest vehicles.