The American bus revival

[Grant-53]

One reason I build fairings for upright bikes more than recumbants is that the buses and trains here can accomodate the upright bikes more readily. A local bus may have an external bike rack and the double level trains we rode looked like you could put a bike in lower level storage easily. The other big reason is that I can't get a long wheelbase machine down my cellar stairs to my work shop.
Even a bus getting 10 mpg with 15 passengers would get 150 pmpg and a family of 6 in the Dodge minivan getting 22 mpg yields 132 pmpg. Four people in my '95 Geo Prizm getting 33 mpg would be 132 pmpg. We take this into consideration when choosing which means of transportation to use based on cost per mile.

[gone7]

Trains and buses should be placed in the museum where they belong, right next to taxi cabs.

[MetroMPG]

Don't forget the bicycles!

[euromodder]

The local bus revival - totally pushed by the gov't, and a safe haven for political friends needing top jobs - is actually working against the efficiency of everyone else's means of transport.

It started with cutting down traffic lanes in order to have separate bus lanes.
The bus lanes are generally empty - and all too often the bus is too, BTW - while traffic on the remaining single lane is jammed up.

Next step was moving the bus stops from aside the road, smack into the traffic lanes - usually in both directions - effectively blocking the road for any other traffic, forcing everyone to stop at every bus stop, and leading to unsafe overtaking attempts to get away from behind the busses.
Very efficient !

Bus travelers merely pay 15% of the actual cost, the remaining 85% is gov't subsidies being paid for by the taxpayers, while for 85% of them - coincidentally - the bus doesn't provide a transport solution !
(busses only have a 14% share in commuting traffic, though everyone pays for them)

Busses are generally crammed full at peak times, giving uncomfortable and unpleasant commuting conditions, or near-empty off peak - yet they still run.

Binary throttle operation is standard for our bus drivers, leading to even more discomfort - and greatly reducing their efficiency at transporting people.

I'll pass on this revival.

[slowmover]

As one guy said (and I agree), "Streetcars are a sign of civilzation".

[Grant-53]

Ever drive cross the USA in a hybrid? GE diesel locomotives are series hybrids. Trains can add cars and engines as needed. A mixed fleet of buses can be used to adapt to high vs low volume conditions; it is a simple operations research model. The point is that there are solutions if we break out of old modes of thinking. Would you ride a bike if you could go 25 mph without breaking a sweat, be protected from weather, dogs, and SUVs all for less than $1000 USD? Beats sitting in traffic idling your engine.

[gone7]

Bicycles are actually pretty neat. They are there when you want them (as long as someone hasn't stolen them), they go where to want, and they are very economical.

That beats the heck out of any mass transit that has ever been invented. Mass transit has always been, and will always be, a non-starter.

Sadly for bikes, they are very inconvenient.

[Grant-53]

What makes them inconvenient?

[gone7]

They don't protect you from heat or cold. They are not comfortable for long trips. They take more energy than they are worth on business trips. There is no storage for the business professionals easel and presentation materials. It is difficult to keep things clean and dry on a trip with them. Etc..

[Grant-53]

You still use an easel. Bicycles are best for trips up to one hour in length. An electric bicycle would extend the effective range. The fairing system can keep one warm and dry. The dual mode capabilities of bicycles with cars, buses, or trains are available now in many areas; a maglev train would be no different. Rail companies still use light trucks with steel rail wheel adapters. Buses could be fitted as well. The real difficulty comes because rail lines are privately owned by freight haulers at present.