Building a Better Bus Route, With No Defined Stops

Earlier this week we looked at what a large city can do to increase the efficiency of its bus service in a high-density corridor. In Manhattan, bus stops are so crowded that transit officials must find ways for passengers to board more quickly. That's a problem, of course, but in the grand scheme of transit problems it's a pretty good one. At the other end of the spectrum is the challenge of providing reliable service to small cities or sprawling suburbs where residential density and ridership demand are very low.

Most buses operate on a fixed-route system: they pass through a series of predetermined stops that passengers must get to and from on their own. In densely populated places, where the closest bus stop is never too far away, the fixed-route system can work well. But in low-demand areas fixed routes can be terribly inefficient. Stops are spaced so far apart that it can seem like you need a bus just to get to the bus stop. On nights and weekends, or during bad weather, this inconvenience is magnified.