Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

Look for the Superbus

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by

James A. Bacon
in

Not long ago, I penned a column lamenting the innovation gap between the automobile industry and the mass transit industry. (See “The Innovation Gap.”) If I were a wagering man, I’d still bet that the auto industry will outstrip mass transit in the pace at which it integrates new technology into its vehicles. But the mass transit sector may not be as slow and stodgy as I’d thought.

Writing in Governing magazine, Ellen Perlman describes “The Year of the Superbus.” Commuter buses are getting decked out with closed-circuit television, Wi-Fi access, reclining seats, cupholders, and ruggage racks for laptops and briefcases. With GPS sensors embedded on buses, transit companies know exactly where their vehicles are, and they can notify passengers if a particular bus is running on time or late.

There are some innovations in Bus Rapid Transit as well. Traffic lights can be manipulated so that buses can run faster between stations, and the buses themselves are being redesigned to facilitate people boarding and getting off more quickly, like they do on the subway.

There seems to be no lack of ideas. There are loads of experiments across the United States. The problem, which isn’t addressed in the article, is the speed at which government and quasi-government monopolies implement change. Automobiles, I predict, will be outfitted with the latest gee-whiz technology long before buses will.

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  1. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    I suspect this traffic light manipulation business is going to cause more problems than it solves.

    What is the benefit of having an elaborate computer controlled system with timed lights and sensors to maximise traffic flow, and then have that overridden by a bus driver running late?

    The ripple effect throughout the next nearest intersections may cost more than it saves.

    Not only that, but it will increase uncertainty. Say you are used to travelling a boulevard with timed lights. You are accustomed to travelling at 25 mph and watching the lights turn green as you approach.

    Suddenly, the light short-cycles and a bus goes through at right angles. Maybe, if the whole thing is sensor driven, we get used to uncertainty, but it seems an odd way to “improve” things.

    I read an analysis that compared traffic in Rome to the American system. The authors concluded that the apparent uncontrolled chaos in Rome actually worked better and delivered more throughput. If that’s the case, we could save a lot of money and scrap the computers.

    I sure hope somebody is thinking about this stuff and not just buying the latest cool widgets.

    RH

  2. Michael Ryan Avatar
    Michael Ryan

    “Ruggage lacks”?

  3. Larry Gross Avatar
    Larry Gross

    “Ruggage lacks”?

    brain fart.

    they happen…

  4. Jim Bacon Avatar
    Jim Bacon

    Typo corrected — thanks!

  5. Michael Ryan Avatar
    Michael Ryan

    Now it says “ruggage racks”. Not your day!

  6. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    We already have the super bus. it’s called a minvan.

  7. Larry Gross Avatar
    Larry Gross

    there’s a little appreciated technology about to explode on the market that could transform transportation as we know it – and not necessarily to the benefit of transit.

    It’s possible that an innovation known as location-based advertising could conceivably put a free internet-connected GPS in every car.

    That unit would provide:

    * – real-time traffic conditions

    * – the ability to find the fastest path around traffic including how much it would cost you if you took a toll route.

    * – the ability to tell you where the nearest parking is and how much it is

    * – the ability to tell you where the nearest service station is with the lowest price gasoline

    as well as many other things that you might find useful on an internet-connected computer.

    $4 a gallon gas might affect how many cars use this technology initially but as folks switch to 50mpg cars including plug-ins.

    Once plug-ins become available – this free GPS unit will become standard equipment AND a clear advantage to driving one’s own vehicle rather than use transit.

  8. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    The car from Aptera is so aerodynamic that it has the same aero profile of the average windshield wiper. This allows the car to travel 120 miles on battery power alone or get 300 miles per gallon when the plug-in hybrid is running on petroleum. There is enough storage space to fit 15 bags of groceries, two full-size golf club bags or even a couple of seven foot surf boards. Safety has not been forgotten as Formula 1 technology is used to protect the passengers. Rollover strength exceeds the FMVSS(Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) 216 and the doors also far EXCEED mandated strength requirements for passenger cars. No official top speed has been released but it is supposed to go over 85 mph.

    Production begins in late 2008 with a cost of $26,900 for the all electric version and $29,900 for the plug-in hybrid version. Popular Mechanics has a video covering this very unique vehicle.

  9. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    The bus dilemna is fairly simple and it comes down to 2 basic things.

    1. Is it faster than driving alone, which also includes the 5-10 mins one must arrive early to board.
    and/or
    2. Is it so much cheaper that it justifies the extra time to ride.

    Everything else is just bells and whistles that ignores the basic advantages that a bus can provide.

    If you look at where buses are most successful they tend to be in areas where the buses have separate HOV lanes to use or where parking and car ownership is expensive. In the DC area that tends to be inside the beltway and along the HOV corridors such as I-95/395 and the Dulles Access Road.

    All these other things like comfy seats and wi-fi are nice, but won’t likely draw many riders if it takes extra time to reach their destination. Traffic light triggers while nice are useless without dedicated bus lanes which there are few of even in busy corridors.

    The whole idea of building fancy buses is really putting the cart before the horse. You need to build/remodel the corridors first where bus travel will be effective then you can move on to meeting the demand for luxury goods. It’s like trying to sell people Mercedes when there is nothing but farms and dirt roads around.

    ZS

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