C'mon America, Get On the Bus

The US is by and large overlooking an obvious solution to its public transportation troubles, writes Will Doig at Salon: The "humble city bus." Light rail is the new darling of city planners across the nation, but a "bus rapid transit" system could be an inexpensive and even "elegant" answer to congestion. What makes a true BRT? Think dedicated bus lanes, frequent departures, state-of-the-art bus stops, maps that are actually useful—just plain better service and options for customers.

Look at Google. Its private bus service for employees is so efficient and downright pleasant that it's considered a lure for new employees. Cities should take notice. "The bus suffers from an image problem," writes Doig. "But not long ago, so did bicycles. Now bikes are the cool kid’s transport, and all it took was a little investment and some reputation rehab." Read the full column here. (More buses stories.)