Human Transit

A newly released proposal for overhauling Metro bus service in Los Angeles includes innovative and controversial measures. Included is a new metric for measuring the success of bus lines.

July 10, 2015 - Human Transit

Halfway between public transit and private cars, new and varying forms of 'microtransit' threaten to out-compete traditional public services. Concerns about equity, inclusion, and employee compensation follow.

May 14, 2015 - Human Transit

Jarrett Walker shares the news that the city of Houston gave final approval to overhaul its public transit system, including the implementation of a frequent network grid. The changes are expected to be complete by August 2015.

February 15, 2015 - Human Transit

File under tools for the tool kit: Jarrett Walker of Human Transit shares details about Nearmap, an aerial photography tool that serves as a helpful alternative to Google Earth.

December 29, 2014 - Human Transit

Jarrett Walker shares news and analysis of a recent study by the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP) finding explosive growth in the construction of bus rapid transit lines around the world in the last ten years.

December 5, 2014 - Human Transit

A region dominated by automobile-friendly infrastructure has released a Draft EIR for a bus rapid transit project connecting central San Jose to Palo Alto via El Camino Real.

November 16, 2014 - Human Transit

While so many cities struggle to overcome irrational and uninformed opinions in debates about transportation systems, Edmonton is in the midst of a conversation with good questions and no right or wrong answers.

September 29, 2014 - Human Transit

According to Jarrett Walker, one solution to alleviating food deserts is by providing residents access to frequent transportation networks.

August 19, 2014 - Human Transit

Jarrett Walker details the nuances of travel time comparisons, following on a recent Boston Magazine article comparing MBTA transit service to the new Bridj private bus service.

July 2, 2014 - Human Transit

Jarrett Walker shares news of a proposed transit network update for Columbus, Ohio, which he helped develop as part of a consulting team led by IBI Associates. The update has been released for public comment.

May 31, 2014 - Human Transit

Earlier this month, Portland’s TriMet restored high frequency bus service to ten bus routes around the city. Jarrett Walker makes the case that the frequency of service can make or break a city’s transit system.

March 24, 2014 - Human Transit

A recent telephone poll of Portland citizens asked what types of transportation investments they prioritize for the city. The top two responses both include “safe.”

February 20, 2014 - Human Transit

Musing on the discussion at last week's Citylab conference, Jarrett Walker finds a surprising convergence with the ideology of America's Tea Party: "Big and active national government may not be the answer." Would cities be better off going it alone?

October 15, 2013 - Human Transit

Jarrett Walker examines the desirability of slow transit as argued by University of British Columbia Professor Patrick M. Condon in support of a vast streetcar network for Vancouver.

November 11, 2012 - Human Transit

An innovate plan to reconceive Auckland's transit network from the ground up led by Jarrett Walker demonstrates the dramatic efficiencies that can be gained, without additional cost, by increasing transfers.

October 11, 2012 - Human Transit

Reflecting on his experiences at CNU's recent Transportation Summit, Jarrett Walker examines "the mutual incomprehension that plagues the relationship between urban designers and transit planners."

September 13, 2012 - Human Transit

On his Human Transit blog, transit planner Jarrett Walker brings us images and a description of a "bus stop of the future" for the streets of Paris, designed by Marc Aurel.

May 22, 2012 - Human Transit

Jarrett Walker rides on the Wellington Cable Car, giving him the opportunity to explain the four conditions for when a funicular is a sensible transit solution.

October 3, 2011 - Human Transit

Jarrett Walker looks at a recent "Top Cities for Transit" list that ranks Honolulu #1, and says the criteria that the Brookings Institution used are "especially perverse".

May 20, 2011 - Human Transit

Planners have embraced "1/4th of a mile" as the official distance that people are willing to walk to take transit. But why is that the measure, and is it accurate?

May 1, 2011 - Human Transit