A vehicle door lock having a rotary latch arrangement and a release mechanism. The rotary latch arrangement includes a lock case in which a pivoted rotary latch and a pivoted locking pawl are arranged. The release mechanism includes a first release device with a traverse tube, a cable pull mechanism with a traction element led through the traverse tube and means for actuating the cable pull mechanism, and a pivotable actuation lever that engages in the lock case and which comprises two opposite actuation lever lateral surfaces. The actuation lever is rotatably connected with the first release device to be driven about an actuation lever rotary axis, wherein the locking pawl can be actuated by rotating the actuation lever so that the locking mechanism of the rotary latch can be released.

A novel door and partition assembly for transit vehicles is provided. The door extends from the floor to the ceiling of the transit vehicle and the partition extends from the floor to the ceiling of the transit vehicle and to the windshield and dashboard area such that passengers cannot reach around the door and partition assembly into the operator's area. A novel locking mechanism is provided having an external and internal release mechanism which allows the operator to enter and exit the operator's area of a transit vehicle having the novel door and partition assembly.