How to Keep Buses From Bunching

Bus bunching is a regular source of frustration for riders and city transit agencies alike. When buses on a particular route clump together it means crowding for the lead bus (as it stops longer to pick up more passengers), slower speeds and wasted capacity for the one behind (as it waits for the bus ahead of it and carries fewer riders), and a less reliable schedule for riders in general.

Usually transit agencies address bunching by building in slack time at certain "control points" on a bus route. That gives buses the chance to get back onto a fixed schedule or headway (the amount of time between buses). This approach can help alleviate bunching some, but it often requires a good bit of work on the part of drivers in terms of making adjustments, and it's often ineffective in cases of serious disruptions, such as a breakdown or inclement weather.