Nothing to fear

By N.B. | Washington, DC

"I DON'T want to sound obnoxious," a friend told me the other day, "but I hate the bus."

My friend hates riding buses because they are too often slow and crowded. He is not alone. To many they have a certain stigma. Margaret Thatcher is supposed to have said “A man who, beyond the age of 26, finds himself on a bus can count himself as a failure.” But it doesn't have to be this way. City buses, used smartly, are great: they are quicker than walking, cheaper than a cab, and go places the subway doesn't.

Indeed, in many cities, bus services are improving as municipal planners have cottoned on to the startling idea that what people want is a fast and frequent service. In New York,buses that run along First and Second Avenuerequire passengers to pay before they board, saving enormous amounts of time. They use dedicated lanes, and can signal traffic lights to stay green for longer, saving even more time. Houston has justredesigned its entire bus networkto provide a much more frequent service on heavily used corridors, dramatically improving the usefulness of the system without spending an extra dime.

Washington, DC, where I live, has an extensive network. But the city's legendary traffic means buses move slowly. Few routes run in dedicated lanes—and those lanes that do exist are loosely enforced. Meanwhile, the city has spent millions on a new streetcar system that will share a lane with car traffic—essentially addinga bus that can't switch lanes.

A few common sense measures can make a big difference. More cities should force passengers to buy tickets before boarding—especially on high-volume routes. Alternatively, they can even considermaking them free. They should follow Houston's example and improve frequency on the most important routes. They should create and enforce dedicated bus lanes. And, in high-traffic cities such as Washington, municipal leaders should consider charging people to bring their cars into the city centre.