Buses

Wheelchair Ramp

A Look at Accessibility in Atlanta

A wheelchair user describes what it's like to travel on Atlanta streets and on the city's public transit system.

December 28, 2019 - Atlanta

Manhattan Bus Transit

NYC Leads the Way (Sort of)

Evaluating New York City's new law designed to facilitate bus, pedestrian, and bike travel.

November 14, 2019 - Michael Lewyn

Los Angeles BRT

'The Future of Transportation Is Not About Inventions. It’s About Choices.'

While much attention is focused on new technologies, the potential of existing transportation modes has never been fully realized.

November 7, 2019 - Slate

Los Angeles Metro Bus

How to Improve Buses, the Overlooked but Essential Part of Urban Mobility

A new book argues that buses are an integral part of successful mobility networks and that better bus systems improve cities in ways benefiting all residents.

October 23, 2019 - CityLab

Downtown Seattle

Monorail Joins the Seattle Transit Network

The city's monorail has operated separately from other systems in the region, but now riders can pay fares using the ORCA cards that work for other transit systems in the region.

October 10, 2019 - The Urbanist

Los Angeles Subway

L.A. Metro Report Examines How Women Travel

Findings from a new study about the mobility needs and concerns of women in Los Angeles will inform future initiatives and planning.

October 7, 2019 - Streetsblog LA

Trump Administration Supports Ending Bus and Rail Procurements From Chinese Companies

Capital investments could get more expensive, if Congress forces transit systems to buy American.

September 6, 2019 - Eno Center for Transportation

Megabus

Virginia Intercity Buses Exceed Ridership Estimates By 200 Percent

The Virginia Breeze intercity bus service has vastly exceeded original ridership estimates since its launch in late 2017. Two more lines are slated to launch in the spring or summer of next year.

August 26, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

Subway WiFi

New York MTA Almost Eliminated WiFi on Buses

The New York City MTA has changed the story, twice, about its plans for little used WiFi service on the city buses.

July 29, 2019 - The City

Toronto Bus TTC

Toronto Could Give Buses and Streetcars Priority

In a shift away from subway expansions and upgrades, Toronto looks to improve the bus and streetcar systems.

July 19, 2019 - The Star

Bus Stop

Culling Transit Stops to Improve System Performance

Bus stop balancing can help lines run much more smoothly. A new publication guides agencies through the process.

July 13, 2019 - Streetsblog USA

Bus Lane New York City

More Bus Lane Cameras Coming to N.Y.C.

New state legislation will allow the city to expand the network of cameras and step up enforcement.

July 1, 2019 - Crain's New York Business

Gm Bus

'Speed' Turns 25: Planners Think About Fast Buses

In the '90s, Keanu Reeves was hurtling down the roads and freeways of L.A. in a bus; 25 years later, city officials ponder ways to bring the city’s average bus speed above 10 mph.

June 20, 2019 - Curbed Los Angeles

Proterra Electric Bus

Debating the Merits of Hydrogen and Batteries for Buses

To switch to fully electric bus fleets, transit agencies can invest in batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. Both have their advantages.

June 19, 2019 - Governing

Yosemite Shuttle

Yosemite Shuttles Reportedly Crowded and Unsafe

The popular park's shuttle buses are intended to ease traffic and get people out of their cars. But critics say management and maintenance of the shuttle system leave much to be desired.

June 11, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

California Freeway

Bill Would Phase-Out Most Diesel Emissions in California

The bill is directed at the medium and heavy-duty trucking industry, which, along with buses, account for 90 percent of the state's toxic diesel exhaust. Diesel emissions would need to be reduced by 80 percent by 2050. Will electric trucks be ready?

March 21, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Proterra Electric Bus

Battery-Electric Buses Might Not Be Quite Ready for Prime Time

Companies are marketing battery-electric buses as the transit vehicles of the future, but there is still much room for improvement.

January 22, 2019 - CityLab

Boston Bus

Boston Dedicated Bus Lanes Facing Funding Questions

The bus lanes have improved travel times, but who should cover the costs isn't entirely clear.

January 11, 2019 - The Boston Globe

San Francisco Muni Buses

Too Many Conferences Miss the Bus

Nonprofits often advocate for local transit spending, but when we gather, we seem to forget these values. How would we know what the transit of a given city is like if we never ride their buses?

December 25, 2018 - Shelterforce Magazine

Alaskan Way Viaduct

Seattle Scrambles to Handle Upcoming Traffic 'Squeeze'

Dubbed the "Seattle Squeeze," heavier traffic is expected in the new year as the Alaskan Way Viaduct closes and downtown construction projects continue. While the city prepares, activists want to use the opportunity to encourage other modes.

December 21, 2018 - Crosscut

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.