In recent years, ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft have begun offering city dwellers an attractive, affordable alternative to taxi rides and trips in their own vehicles. Now, other companies are beginning to apply the ride-sharing business model to bus transit as well. In San Francisco, a company called Chariot has developed an app that allows people to hail rides from buses in their area on-demand, just like they would with an Uber. Meanwhile, in New York City, some people are speaking out in favor of a similar ride-sharing program that could alleviate stress on the existing MTA bus system…. Read more »
There’s a special kind of pride that comes with taking good care of a vehicle and watching the odometer tick into high mileages. But while many people are content to retire their vehicles after 100,000 miles or so, the Metro transit service in St. Louis has achieved an even more impressive accomplishment by running a bus for an incredible 1 million miles. Its Cummins M11 engine has never required an overhaul despite being driven consistently for more than a decade and a half. “To put it into perspective, it’s the same as if this bus had traveled around the world… Read more »
Thanks to their large frames and spacious interiors, buses are especially versatile vehicles that can be used for a whole lot more than just ferrying commuters to and from work. Over the years, we’ve seen enterprising individuals transform buses into all sorts of things—from tailgating hot spots at football games to mobile shelters for the homeless. Used school buses are particularly popular options for bus conversions, because they are abundant and relatively inexpensive. With all these great conversion ideas in mind, we put together a handy infographic that outlines 5 of our favorite alternative uses for buses. Check it out,… Read more »
Generally speaking, bus stops aren’t known for being places that people look forward to visiting. Instead, these small, spartan shelters serve as waypoints on the path to bigger and better destinations. In many cities, however, commuters spend a significant portion of their work weeks waiting for rides at bus stations. That’s why transit officials in the Jurong Lake District of Singapore decided to create a bus stop loaded with amenities to provide commuters with an extra measure of comfort and convenience while they wait. After coming up with the idea for a bus stop that could “make waiting fun,” Singapore… Read more »
Rush hour traffic is certainly frustrating for commuters in cars, but it can be especially disruptive to public bus services. When buses are caught in gridlock and forced to sit through multiple light cycles, it can cause a phenomenon known as “bus bunching,” wherein the next bus in line catches up to the bus ahead of it. This can wreak havoc on bus schedules, sometimes leaving commuters left in the lurch while they wait for buses that might be hours behind schedule. This issue has been particularly problematic in Baltimore, where the Metro Transit Authority (MTA) has been struggling to… Read more »
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) has made some big changes to its bus service in recent months. Late last year, the RTC released a mobile app which allows riders to find bus stops, track buses in real time, and purchase transit passes right from their smartphones. The app was designed to make RTC buses as convenient and accessible as possible. Now, the RTC has made another upgrade that promises to add yet another level of convenience to its bus fleet: free Wi-Fi service. In early February, RTC General Manager Tina Quigley announced that the transit commission had… Read more »
In December of 1952, a cold weather system descended on London and caused a buildup of factory smog so severe that visibility was reduced to just a few feet. Now known as the Great Smog of 1952, the event forced London officials to finally take steps to alleviate the city’s ongoing air-pollution problems. Since then, London has made sweeping reforms that have significantly improved the city’s air quality. London’s air quality might be a whole lot better than it was in the 1950’s, but there’s still room for improvement. City officials estimate that roughly 9,400 premature deaths happen every year… Read more »
New York City’s famous public transport system is known for being a lot of things, but simple isn’t one of them. Even for longtime residents of the city, finding the quickest route from one destination to another can be challenging. The complexity of the NYC transit system has been compounded by the fact that the city’s Metro Transit Authority (MTA) has never created a map that includes both subway lines and bus routes. Instead, riders must consult different maps to see all the different components that comprise the city’s massive public transit system. Soon, however, thanks to New York City… Read more »
Although we deal in buses powered by conventional fuels, we always like to stay informed when we hear of a cool company making new waves in the electric bus industry. Today, we’re here to tell you about a French startup that recently raised a whopping $34 million to fund the development of its autonomous electric bus. Navya, a research company based in France, has been developing its self-driving bus, the Arma, for a full decade. The bus finally debuted in October of this year in its first trials in Lyon, France. In its first test run, passengers were treated to… Read more »
There’s some exciting news for public transit riders here in Las Vegas! The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) has released a new smartphone app that makes it easier than ever to purchase tickets and find bus routes around the city. The app, rideRTC, was developed in a partnership with Masabi, a London-based technology company whose JustRide mobile ticketing platform is used by more than 25 other transportation agencies around the globe. Using rideRTC, commuters and visitors to Las Vegas can locate bus stops, track buses in real time, and purchase transit passes in advance. “RTC Transit takes you… Read more »
