High Frequency: Why Houston is Back on the Bus

Every city should do a "system reimagining" of their bus network like Houston METRO did.
Back in 2012, a small group of motivated citizens asked their local transit agency, elected leaders and advocates about how they could improve Houston's bus network. Ridership was down. Buses did not run as frequently as people liked. The routes didn't go where the populace needed them as the system did not change with the city since the 1970s. Weekend ridership was weak. If you wanted to transfer to another route, you almost always had to take a bus downtown first.
As you can surmise, all of this contributes to more cars on the roads and people not wanting to use transit.
The solution was an extremely ambitious, complete examination of every single bus route in the city, wiping the slate clean and starting from scratch. Through community meetings and years of tough decisions - a new METRO bus network emerged. One that has faster service, more efficient, better routes and one that is already boasting big gains in weekend service. And the changes have been essentially revenue neutral, meaning that all the Houston bus system is running at about the same budget it did prior.
This inspirational Streetfilm was produced in partnership with TransitCenter, which is funding us for a total of four films looking at transit throughout the country in 2016.

[@Turnil321]

was sent by "not just bikes" video about Houston

[@anorwegianguy3780]

Same

[@Aliquis.frigus]

Same. Also Norwegian BTW.

[@henreereeman8529]

Turnil no one asked

[@dp92492]

You too?

[@shbmsrto]

Same 🇯🇲

[@utterbullspit]

Frequency, speed, and reach are probably the main reasons why more people don't take the bus. I'd love it if other transit systems went back to the drawing board with buses.

[@kscott2655]

I remember when this happened. When I worked downtown, I tried the bus. I had to walk 1/2 mile to my stop (every 30 minutes) and then go to a hub for a transfer. Getting back was worse with multiple transfers and lines that stopped running after a certain time. I got stranded once. When the routes changed, there was no longer even a route within walking distance of my house. So, I'm sure it's great for many. It was bad to me to begin with, but got worse with the change to the point of being unavailable in my neighborhood.

[@wturner777]

Those changes probably force more people to just get a car. Even that's impossible for some.

[@elisabethkolling6697]

This is a key advantage a bus system has over a rail system. Can't reroute a rail system as needed!

[@safe-keeper1042]

This is wonderful. Good to see Houston making this transition.

[@brazielh]

It still take a hour to get to work on the Houston Metro Bus.

[@ilcubo32]

The bus still share lanes with private cars, so if one get stuck, the other will also get stuck.

[@wturner777]

@@ilcubo32 True. I reckon you guys don't have priority traffic lights and lanes for buses yet.

[@AshmewStudios]

that really sucks but at least the frequency is better

[@saranbhatia8809]

Public transit is the way forward!

[@vacafuega]

Public transit is the true arterial system of a city, it's so great seeing these people feel more free and happy because they have agency to move around their city

[@ranocchiasimpatica]

I was sent here from the not just bikes video, it's so nice to see the improvement and i hope there will be more changes so that houston's residents can live a happier life

[@jimhanold9026]

I was a regular rider on the Houston METRO bus system from Monday, January 7'th, 1985 until Friday, March 24'th, 1989; the routes-as they were designed then; and the service-as it was operated then-served me well. However-after having watched the online videos about the service changes implemented since 2015 (information I ALSO learned about from the Houston METRO bus/train system website)-I now realize that the revised system serves the riders much better! Incidentally-in late March of 1989-I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area; in April of that year-I started riding that regions bus systems; in April of 1990, I started riding the regions commuter train service-BART-Bay Area Regional Transit.

[@andrepoiy1199]

Grid based bus routes are the way to go in grid cities

[@kipuvi9181]

Here form Not Just Bikes love the video !

[@AkademiaFlirtu]

To me, as a European, it's incredible that doing something that our cities had been doing since almost 100 years in US is considered innovation, not a standard. All big cities have different public transport system that will get you literally anywhere in the city or in the suburbs.Plus infrastructure for bike, escooters, pedestrians... Seriously, it's incredible that you have to own a car JUST TO SURVIVE.

[@cdgstuff7512]

Yes, resistance to practical things that happen to be different than now in America is strong. I think we poisoned ourselves with a too high opinion of ourselves.

[@blanco7726]

@@cdgstuff7512 I think you convinced yourselves you're the best country, the place to be. So no questions asked, it is how it is and thats the best.

[@lidge1994]

They need a car to get bread, it's not weird to assume something as simple as regular public transportation was a foreign concept to them.

[@unconventionalideas5683]

@@lidge1994 It was more that they redid the whole network at once. In Europe, the networks are tweaked over time, typically, whereas here the network of existing routes was extremely outdated and needed to be replaced. It wasn't so much that regular public transit was non-existent, but that it was servicing a city that didn't exist anymore.

[@unconventionalideas5683]

@@blanco7726 That's something that really only exists in older generations. Most younger folk take the view that the idea of a best country in the world is inherently not a sensible concept. They say that the United States is a good place to live, which is true by global standards, but eyes are wide open. When I say younger folk, I am actually referring to a wide demographic swath of people who are more politically engaged than ever, with birth years circa 1980 onwards, who now form the majority of the electorate.

[@Blargmaster-pf4bf]

Thank you NJB!

[@JessicaCale8]

Tell this to my commute. Anything not on the west side or downtown kinda gets the finger as far as public transportation goes.

[@michaelmerritt7406]

That's by design. NIMBYs ensure that whatever they can't destroy outright, they lobby whatever shitty board members they can to make the metro system as inefficient as possible. For the purposes of further arguing against public transit.

[@Elementalism.]

looks good looks like progress looks like freedom the freedom to go where you want, however you want

[@dospesentas]

As long as you want to go somewhere on the fixed route at the time allowed by the fixed schedule and woe be it if you have several disparate destinations to go to - better pack a lunch (and dinner). Progress? Like having to go where the government lets you and when they want you to? Progress? To be stuck waiting at a stop in the rain or heat or cold, then have to ride with people that you may not want to ride with? Yeah, that's great progress!

[@AlphabetSoupABC]

@@dospesentas And you have the freedom not to ride the bus if you don't want to. Cool, right?

[@Elementalism.]

@@dospesentas you are not limited to any single line, you can mix and match them for wherever you want to go. And 12 minute intervals is really good. I got 8 minutes where i live, so i don't even bother check when i need to be at the stop, i just go and the bus will be there in minutes. And no, you are not limited to where the gov lets you, most destinations are walking distance from the stops. As this video shows, it is also not the government who decided where these lines go, the local people were actively involved in figuring out where these routes go, using data of when and where people travel. As for weather, it's nothing that will kill you. Allowing yourself to be exposed to heat, cold, water, and just the weather in general is actually really healthy, and something we don't do nearly enough in our modern lives. I ride my bike to work every day, about 30 minutes each way, and i do it in a tshirt, no mater what weather nature throws at me, from the blazing heat to snow storms. Simply because i know it's good for me And it's nowhere near as uncomfortable as you would imagine it to be, after a while you barely notice. Air conditioning, warm jackets and heated seats have made us addicted to comfort. ... All that being said, no one is taking your car away, if you want to drive your car, you still can. Public transport just gives you an extra option, extra freedom And to some less fortunate, those who cannot afford a car, it gives them a lifeline, allowing them to search for employment far beyond what they were capable of before.

[@dospesentas]

@@Elementalism. The bus network you describe is a Utopian fantasy. Do you have any idea how many buses would be needed to have 8 minute frequency and the coverage you imply? No bus system operates without massive tax subsidy, outside commute periods it is terribly inefficient. Then there's the bums, crime and pathogens. Everyone can't ride a bike and they aren't practical for long distance or carrying loads of significant size. Feel free to wallow in inferior mobility modes, I'll be there waiting on you.

[@Elementalism.]

Then i live in a utopia. And you want to know what is inefficient? Single occupant cars You know what gets extremely subsidized in the US? Your fuel prices And no, the bums, crimes and pathogens are nothing but fear mongering. Bikes work absolutely fine for most trips. 45% of car trips in the US are less than 3 miles, and most people consider 5 miles to be the max comfortable distance using a bike. If you do need to go further, then the answer is simple, use public transport. Even if you need to go to another city, you can often bike to a train station, go to the other city by train, and then rent a bike there. Most trips by car are not only single occupant, but also lacking loads of significant size. (Big Americans excluded) And you would be surprised how much you can take with on a bike. And should you really have cargo that cannot be transported by bike or public transport, you can always rent, rideshare, or uber. This may be hard to believe, and seem like wishful thinking... But i live with this So i invite you to come see this apparent utopia here in Holland.

[@trevorditmar]

"Wait, what are your credentials?" "I'm the f***ing bus lady"

[@Schmuni]

2:21 as a european i was pittying you guys through the video until this point. YOU GOT BUSES CARRYING YO BIKES!? DAYUMN!

[@cheerio4000]

ur buses don’t have bike holders??? they’re here in canada

[@Schmuni]

@@cheerio4000 nope, and were not allowed to take them with us on public transport during rush hours.

[@wturner777]

@@Schmuni Well that's inconvenient.

[@Schmuni]

@@wturner777 But quite understandable. The last thing you need in rush hour when the trains are bursting with people anyhow is a few ppl with bikes blocking up the trains even more. Still pretty jealous of them holders^^

[@dummysick_8117]

ça me rend heureux de voir ces changements dans les villes aux États-Unis.

[@carmendaga213]

ES BUEN TRANSPORTE.

[@hi__hassan]

Here after the Not Just Bikes video.

[@wturner777]

Same.

[@Dave-ie1fs]

Great stuff! That's nice to hear, but still a lot more work to be done, but just with busses.

[@rannie110]

Baltimore needs to take some notes!!

[@sanderbos4243]

Awesome

[@domi7859]

me, an european, watching this like: "dayum, this is an achievement for you people? like its normal for me that i can reach a damn hospital with like 10 bus lines and 2 underground lines"

[@unconventionalideas5683]

It was more the complete reconfiguration of the whole network all in one go, almost like how Switzerland redid all its timetables in 2000. That's sort of what happened, and people were talking about the positive effects it had on their lives.

[@whooah]

It's the fact that they did it all at once you annoying tool.

[@MariaFlores-vo6he]

5 southmore on its off peek is 45 minute

[@brazielh]

So true that bus still take forever.

[@projectreject3889]

2018 Houston Metro system wide ridership was up a whopping 1%. 2017 it was DOWN, 2016 (when this video was posted) bus ridership was FLAT. So far 2019? DOWN overall. What's the ACTUAL cost to the taxpayer per rider (get ready for a shock)? This video is feel good propaganda. The urban transportation landscape is evolving, transformative transit technologies will foster on-demand/point to point transportation that makes fixed schedule/fixed destination obsolete. Public transit is a slow, inconvenient, overpriced, dinosaur.

[@ThisisTechie]

ProjectReject It’s mainly because right after around the time this video came out, the current board was phased in and was more focused on brand image versus quality routes.

[@noahlschneider]

Visit Singapore, Hong Kong, London, New York, etc. and then tell me public transit is a dinosaur. Maybe ridership isn’t up much in Houston because we’ve spent literal decades making it a car dependent hell scape making the walking that transit requires dangerous and only done by people who can’t afford their own car.

[@dospesentas]

​@@noahlschneider The cities you cite are exceptional for their density - NYC is 27,000/sq mi, Hong Kong 17,000/sq mi. (Houston is 3,000). They are space constrained for roadway and parking and have populations conditioned to use public transit. The majority of places transit is an overpriced, excruciatingly inconvenient, dinosaur.

[@xxrockraiderxx]

"Public transit is slow," is probably the dumbest thing I've read this entire month. Cars are slow, unhealthy, unfriendly and cause basically all the problems in city design that actually plague cities. The amount of data out there showing why public transit is better in the long run for a healthy and happy city is overwhelming. Houston's bus route increase is a good first step, sure it could do better but at the same time it's better than nothing. If Houston got rid of those awful acres of car parking space it has in the centre of the city and instead built housing, and shops and the like, then you'd see ridership shoot up to double what it is today. Cars are the problem, not the solution.

[@noahlschneider]

@@dospesentas we should be designing for density. If you don't have density, cities and towns go bankrupt from a lack of tax base to support the infastrucuture (namely roads) they require. However, for historically car dependent places (and thus low density), bus rapid transit (BRT) or even frequent local bus service cost less than cars and bring health and other benefits. www.transportation.gov/mission/health/Expand-Public-Transportation-Systems-and-Offer-Incentives