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Originally Posted by JAM
Wow, pretty cool. Looks like there are some health benefits too, didn't notice any over weight people getting on the bus while watching the video.
The Houston system resembles this, but really only serves the single purpose of getting daytime workers in and out of downtown. Tons of buses are lined up at the park and rides and leave every 5 minutes to bring you downtown using a dedicated HOV lane. There is not really a need for a station like Bogata has, because you park your car and get on the bus. It is an extensive system that runs thru-out the metro area.
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The Houston system shares almost nothing with the better BRT implementations - this isn't necessarily a bad thing as it obviously works for the people using it. Houston's system is really express buses (like our 98x series buses) - very limited stops only on either end of a long freeway route. The fact that the freeway route is HOV is much nicer, of course, but still doesn't make it BRT like they have in other countries (the HOV lane could be backed up with carpools, for instance; and BRT systems pretty much have to have stops along the way that function for both drop-off and pick-up all day - like the difference most people would draw between urban rail and commuter rail).
The key here is that an express bus is more like a big, comfortable, carpool rather than a typical city bus. Those of you who haven't ridden the 98x buses here in Austin should try - yeah, they're stuck in traffic, but you don't have to worry about making a transfer; and you don't get slowed down by a lot of stops - it's actually a very decent service, especially if you can work or read without getting carsick. I used it on a reverse commute for many years (when I worked along the 183 corridor, a lot of days when I was a bit tired in the morning, I'd use the express bus on the way up and then ride my bike all the way home).
The better-functioning BRT implementations almost all share one key aspect: they are being delivered in countries where commuters are poorer than ours; where driving is actually more expensive; and where the government has powers of condemnation and land-use that would make us run in fear. In this country, BRT implementations have generally failed at attracting choice commuters (those who own a car and previously drove) - even when done pretty well, a la Eugene Oregon or South Miami. And most BRT implementations here
aren't done well - most lack reserved lanes for most or all of their route; and even when they have reserved lanes, operational problems make the service much less attractive than light rail has shown itself to be in similar cities.
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