Imagine a bus system that is fast, frequent, and reliable'what would that change about your city?
Buses can and should be the cornerstone of urban transportation. They offer affordable mobility and can connect citizens with every aspect of their lives. But in the US, they have long been an afterthought in budgeting and planning. With a compelling narrative and actionable steps, Better Buses, Better Cities inspires us to fix the bus.
Transit expert Steven Higashide shows us what a successful bus system looks like with real-world stories of reform'such as Houston redrawing its bus network overnight, Boston making room on its streets to put buses first, and Indianapolis winning better bus service on Election Day. Higashide shows how to marshal the public in support of better buses and how new technologies can keep buses on time and make complex transit systems understandable.
Higashide argues that better bus systems will create better cities for all citizens. The consequences of subpar transit service fall most heavily on vulnerable members of society. Transit systems should be planned to be inclusive and provide better service for all. These are difficult tasks that require institutional culture shifts; doing all of them requires resilient organizations and transformational leadership.
Better bus service is key to making our cities better for all citizens. Better Buses, Better Cities describes how decision-makers, philanthropists, activists, and public agency leaders can work together to make the bus a win in any city.
Preface: My Own Bus Story Acknowledgements
Introduction: We Need to Unleash the Bus Chapter 1: What Makes People Choose the Bus? Chapter 2: Make the Bus Frequent Chapter 3: Make the Bus Fast and Reliable Chapter 4: Make the Bus Walkable and Dignified Chapter 5: Make the Bus Fair and Welcoming Chapter 6: Gerrymandering the Bus Chapter 7: Technology Won't Kill the Bus'Unless We Let It Chapter 8: Building a Transit Nation Conclusion: Winning Mindsets and Growing Movements
Higashide shows how to roll out a new road order for streets by unleashing the power of effective bus networks and unleashing the full potential of cities. Janette Sadik-Khan, Bloomberg Associates, former NYC Transportation CommissionerThis book is a must-read for anybody who cares about cities and transit. Higashide helps us see how to get more out of buses, a maligned but crucial part of our transit systems. Lisa Ann Schweitzer, Professor, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
