Another conservation idea for April

Buses. Oh, I know, that's not such a new idea. But I think that our transportation needs for efficiency would be much better served by high-speed dedicated bus lines (Bus Rapid Transit, BRT) using electric or hybrid-solar buses than light rail.

Light rail costs a lot and is hard to expand. Bus lines just require new pavement and station infrastructure. No tunnels, no bridges, less digging, less electric lines. Saves money and accomplishes the more important task: get people out of their single-passenger commuter cars. For areas where projected light rail is years in the future, it ought to be possible to use the right of way to make bus lines, I think.

And the other neat thing about BRT is that when the line ends, the buses can keep driving on the street.

Here are examples:

SWIFT rapid transit, Everett, Washington


VIA San Antonio, TX (planned)


Bogota, Colombia. TransMilenio -- the prime success story


Ottawa, Canada, OC Transpo Transitway