Metro Transit in the state of Minnesota is very progressive.
1. An Andriod apps allows me to see the next bus number, keep favorites, and display the next several buss frequencies for that stop. Metro supplies the data and the open source community takes care of the code.
2. With added options to create a debit card rather than a monthly pass. So that my card can be read (on the bus) to see how much I have left on it. Plust I get 10% discount if I use it. This speeds up boarding times as well.
3. Using the frequency to stop at a different place, but still serve the bus corridors. Buses in the Metro county may have a letter after the number say 14G with a final destination on the front (led).
This allows bus service every half hour to have two different destinations but still serve the same line (roadway).
While most buses do go to the Robbinsdale transit center. They have one bus head out to Golden Valley, Yet still serves the same high density corridor of downtown and then destination of course changes as well. This allows service to more areas, but not really affecting service.
4. They increase bus service during rush hour and they charge more. Frequencies of ten minutes is the sweet spot. I don't think it is not unreasonable to charge more.
5. They use Rapid Bus Service or BRT extensively. They were the first in the nation to place a BRT station on I 35W, so that the bus never leaves the Carpool lane. The buses also are *authorized to use the shoulders on freeways and some MN state roads. ( MN 7 for example has stoplights ) This was another first for the state of transit.
6. State laws give the bus another useful and powerful feature. If they have their blinker on, then all traffic behind them in that lane yields to the bus with their blinker on. ( so the bus never cuts anyone off and their is a sticker with a yield sign stating the law on the back of the bus.)
This makes sitting on the driver side interesting. As all these people with vehicles, will almost cause a collision by foolish driving.
* Authorize means they can use it if they want, so long it's a transit bus. Yet keep in mind #6 if a bus has their blinker on you must yield to them.
