Forget slogans and fancy trains. If transit agencies just focused on getting people where they need to go in a consistent, reliable (and preferably quicker) way, more people would abandon their cars.
"The bus lurches to a stop behind a rush-hour fender bender.
Passengers look up from their laptops and BlackBerrys, pausing from answering email or watching YouTube via wireless Internet access.
Their trip home is delayed.
Luckily, the vehicle has a satellite transit tracking system that shows buses and streetcars on nearby lines moving well. The information is available at passengers' fingertips via on-board touch screens, which provide real-time updates on route delays and connections.
It means riders can hop off and be assured of grabbing another bus and still getting home in time for dinner.
A futuristic glimpse of public transit? No, today in San Francisco.
Called the Connected Bus, it's a lesson in Customer Service 101.
Restaurateurs and retailers have long known how vital it is to provide service that encourages repeat business. But transit operators are behind schedule when it comes to treating riders like customers."
FULL STORY: The genuinely better way
March Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month
Proposed housing solutions, Chicago transit in peril, and executive actions in limbo.
Gary, Indiana to Expand Transit Service, Bike Share
The city plans to launch a bike share system in April and expand service on its bus routes.
Which US Rail Agencies Are Buying Zero-Emissions Trains?
U.S. rail agencies are slowly making the shift to zero-emissions trains, which can travel longer distances without refueling and reduce air pollution.
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Minneapolis Bans Rent-Setting Software
Four cities have enacted restrictions on algorithmic software that can inflate rent costs.
Oakland to Add 244 New EV Chargers
Oakland plans to launch its new charging network at eight locations by the end of 2025.
Jane Goodall Inspires with Message of Hope, Resilience, and Environmental Action
Speaking in Pasadena, Jane Goodall offered a hopeful and inspirational message, urging global compassion, environmental responsibility, and the power of individual action to shape a better future.
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