How to Make Busses More Attractive than Cars?

Ha, quite an interesting puzzle...

However rather than solve the puzzle I'd rather pose the opposite side of the coin...why not make cars less attracive...Limit their size and power and increase the fuel cost?
This would be a win win scenario..it would by definition make the roads less congested (smaller cars) and also make the busses more attractive.

However no government has the bottle....

Del

You should see the buses in Tijuana, Mx... Most of the city buses are OLD retired buses from up here in the states. They billow black smoke when they leave a red light or a stop sign (not All of them. most of them). Nasty stuff in deed. If you are "lucky" you might get a minstrel on your bus that will sing for you while playing their guitar and then walk around asking for money, gotta pay for the entertainment (not that the city driving doesn't do that already).

They have smaller buses here in San Diego, only they run down by the border and they are private. Jitney is what they are called...

I do not think there is any sort of way to make buses more attractive to people. Well, I guess if you take their cars away, they would become more attractive out of neccesity, not in appearance.

Cheers

On a serious note, Bruxells is interesting with regard to this concept, I do not know all the details, but perhaps Gwen will jump in and correct any of my errors, but basically what happened was the following:-

1) Bruxelles needed many new roads and motorways to compensate for having the European Union in the city.

2) It was going to cost a lot of money.

3) They asked the people what they wanted, new roads, bigger roads etc etc OR a free bus/train pass for everyone living within the city limits, forever. No direct costs at all to themselves.

The citizens voted for the free bus and rail passes and you have a great city, with FULL buses, but plenty of them and very modern and the traffic has been greatly reduced......and very little road works, just repairs!!

Bruxelles (or Brussells) is a great place to go without a car, but of course visitors must pay, but its cheap too!!

The first thing you have to do to make buses more attractive is to make the seats more comfortable, and provide enough leg room to avoid bruised knees. This comment offered after a round trip of some 6 hours each way in a relatively modern, air-conditioned conveyance (with the air conditioner set on about 32 degrees Fahrenheit). I will ride the bus again at some point in the future, after my body recovers. ALL public transportation provides seats that are designed for bodies totally different than mine, and I am not all that much of a freak (OK, maybe a little skinny...)

Neck restraints/headrests and proper seat belts, not just a lap belt are two further areas that I would personally like to see.

Though in the town, it should be up to the individual as to whether they use the seatbelt or not. Once the bus goes over say 30mph, then all should use them.