Quote:
Originally Posted by jaradthescot
I can be that transit advocate. BRT is just better buses. Better, yes, but still buses. You can't say that BRT isn't buses, so I don't know why you're trying to make that argument. I use the bus about 80% of the time for my work commutes and if there's LRT I'll continue to use transit. If BRT is approved, I'm going to be looking at taking a car. It's not about being a "low-life slob" it's about the general perception that is bestowed upon buses and the enjoyability of the ride. Even top-of-the-line buses are still "just buses" and don't get rid of that stigma.
Objectively -- price not being an issue -- LRT is better. Whether or not it's worth the extra expense is debatable (I think everyone knows my opinion) but no one can say that BRT is just as good on all metrics even if the price was the same.
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BRT, if it is going to be done, has to be done right and traffic signals need to be adjusted
before the BRT system is established. Additionally it can't have closely spaced stops, and separate ROWs can't just arbitrarily disappear. At least in my experience, these things often get missed:
- York Region's VIVA system has a few choke points where traffic signal timings create needless delays, particularly in locations where buses need to turn left.
- The Mexico City BRT, at least when I checked it out a few years ago, was incredibly slow through the central part of the city (compared to the competing subway lines). It had its own ROW, but it had numerous choke points where buses had to wait at very long red lights that featured no transit priority signals.
- The recently established 185 Don Mills Rocket on the TTC is faster than the overlapping 25 Don Mills route by a meagre one minute, going from Fairview Mall to Pape Station. It is riddled with frequent stops, zero transit priority signals, and a choke point where a diamond lane mysteriously ends immediately before the bus has to turn right. During morning rush hour, the bus gets stuck waiting to move left into the next lane before it can turn right off Don Mills Road onto Overlea Blvd. It's a pointless "express" bus that provides no advantage over the bus route that was already there. (Many "Rocket" TTC routes run along diamond lanes that permit only buses, taxis, and cars with multiple passengers during rush hour.)
If London does go with BRT, it needs to iron these things out completely before putting buses on the road. Otherwise, it will be a flop as it won't be any better than either taking other buses or driving.
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