Editing Bus rapid transit (section)

== Criticism ==
BRT systems have been widely promoted by [[non-governmental organization]]s such as the Shell-funded EMBARQ program, [[Rockefeller Foundation]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ross|first1=Benjamin|title=Big Philanthropy Takes the Bus|url=https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/brt-bus-rapid-transit-big-philanthropy-oil-lobby|website=Dissent|access-date=30 November 2016}}</ref> and [[Institute for Transportation and Development Policy]] (ITDP), whose consultant pool includes the former mayor of Bogota ([[Colombia]]), [[Enrique Peñalosa]] (former president of ITDP).

Supported by contributions of bus-producing companies such as [[Volvo]],<ref>{{cite web | title = Peñalosa y su trancón de intereses | date = 24 January 2016 | work = Al Garete | url = https://algarete.com.co/2016/01/24/penalosa-y-su-trancon-de-intereses/ | language = es | url-status = usurped | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160501102439/https://algarete.com.co/2016/01/24/penalosa-y-su-trancon-de-intereses/ | archive-date = 1 May 2016 }}</ref> the ITDP not only established a proposed "standard" for BRT system implementation, but developed intensive lobby activities around the world to convince local governments to select BRT systems over rail-based transportation models (subways, light trains, etc.).<ref>{{cite web | title = Si Peñalosa no va a la ciudad, la ciudad va a Peñalosa | date = 7 March 2016 | work = Al Garete | url = http://algarete.com.co/2016/03/07/si-penalosa-no-va-a-la-ciudad-la-ciudad-va-a-penalosa/ | language = es | url-status = usurped | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160506024550/https://algarete.com.co/2016/03/07/si-penalosa-no-va-a-la-ciudad-la-ciudad-va-a-penalosa/ | archive-date = 6 May 2016}}</ref>

=== Bus rapid transit creep ===
[[File:MTA New York City Bus S79 Select Bus Service bus.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[S79 (New York City bus)|S79 SBS]] bus at [[Staten Island Mall]]. The degradation of [[Select Bus Service]] (SBS) in New York City is cited as an example of BRT creep. Note the lack of ticket machines or level boarding.]]
{{Main|Bus rapid transit creep}}

Bus rapid transit creep is a phenomenon commonly defined as a bus rapid transit (BRT) system that fails to meet the requirements to be considered "true BRT". These systems are often marketed as a fully realized bus rapid transit system, but end up being described as more of an improvement to regular bus service by proponents of the "BRT creep" term. Notably, the [[Institute for Transportation and Development Policy]] (ITDP) published several guidelines in an attempt to define what constitutes the term of "true BRT", known as the [[BRT Standard]], in an attempt to avert this phenomenon.

The most extreme versions of BRT creep lead to systems that cannot even truly be recognized as "Bus Rapid Transit". For example, a rating from the ITDP determined that the [[Silver Line (MBTA)|Boston Silver Line]] was best classified as "Not BRT" after local decision makers gradually decided to do away with most BRT-specific features.<ref name="RGL">{{Cite report |url=https://go.itdp.org/display/live/Recapturing+Global+Leadership+in+Bus+Rapid+Transit:+A+Survey+of+Select+U.S.+Cities |title=Recapturing Global Leadership in Bus Rapid Transit: A Survey of Select U.S. Cities |last1=Weinstock |first1=Annie |last2=Hook |first2=Walter |publisher=[[Institute for Transportation and Development Policy]] |last3=Replogle |first3=Michael |last4=Cruz |first4=Ramon |access-date=23 May 2014 |date=May 2011}}</ref>{{rp|45}} The study also evaluates New York City's [[Select Bus Service]] (which is supposed to be BRT-standard) as "Not BRT".<ref name="RGL" />{{rp|47}}

=== Environmental issues ===

Unlike [[Electric multiple unit|electric-powered trains]] commonly used in rapid transit and light rail systems, bus rapid transit often uses diesel- or [[gasoline]]-fueled engines. The typical bus diesel engine causes noticeable levels of [[air pollution]], noise and vibration.<ref>{{cite report |url=http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/420f08026.pdf |title=Average In-Use Emissions from Urban Buses and School Buses |author=Office of Transportation and Air Quality |id=EPA420-F-08-026 |date=October 2008 |publisher=EPA |access-date=19 May 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202091527/http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/420f08026.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2013}}</ref> It is noted however that BRT can still provide significant environmental benefits over private cars. In addition, BRT systems can replace an inefficient conventional bus network for more efficient, faster and less polluting BRT buses. For example, Bogotá previously used 2,700 conventional buses providing transportation to 1.6&nbsp;million passengers daily,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.transmilenio.gov.co/es/articulos/historia|title=Historia |publisher=Transmilenio, Alcaldía de Bogotá |access-date=20 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919011327/http://www.transmilenio.gov.co/es/articulos/historia |archive-date=19 September 2015}}</ref> while in 2013 TransMilenio transported 1.9&nbsp;million passengers using only 630 BRT buses,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.transmilenio.gov.co/sites/default/files/informe_de_gestion_tmsa_2013_vf.pdf|title=Informe de gestión de Transmilenio |date=2013 |page=18 |publisher=Transmilenio, Alcaldía de Bogotá |access-date=20 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018092300/http://www.transmilenio.gov.co/sites/default/files/informe_de_gestion_tmsa_2013_vf.pdf|archive-date=18 October 2015}}</ref> a fleet less than a quarter in size of the old fleet, that circulates at twice the speed, with a huge reduction in air pollution.

To reduce direct emissions some systems use alternative forms of traction such as electric or [[hybrid vehicles|hybrid engines]]. BRT systems can use trolleybuses to lower air pollution and noise emissions such as those in [[Beijing Bus|Beijing]] and [[Trolleybuses in Quito|Quito]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trolleycoalition.org/noise.html|title=Edmonton Trolley Coalition|work=trolleycoalition.org}}</ref> The price penalty of installing [[overhead lines]] could be offset by the environmental benefits and potential for savings from centrally generated electricity, especially in cities where electricity is less expensive than other fuel sources. Trolleybus electrical systems can be potentially reused for future light rail conversion. Transjakarta buses use cleaner [[compressed natural gas]]-fueled engines, while Bogotá started to use hybrid buses in 2012; these hybrid systems use [[regenerative braking]] to charge batteries when the bus stops and then use electric motors to propel the bus up to 40&nbsp;km/h, then automatically switching to the diesel engine for higher speeds, which allows for considerable savings in fuel consumption and pollutant dispersion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.transmilenio.gov.co/es/articulos/inicio-operacion-de-buses-hibridos|title=Inicio de operación de buses híbridos|publisher=Alcaldía de Bogotá – Transmilenio |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018092300/http://www.transmilenio.gov.co/es/articulos/inicio-operacion-de-buses-hibridos|archive-date=18 October 2015}}</ref>

=== Overcrowding and poor quality service ===
[[File:TransMilenio-traffic-jam.jpg|thumb|upright|Traffic jam at [[TransMilenio]]'s dedicated line]]
Many BRT systems suffer from overcrowding in buses and stations as well as long wait times for buses. In [[Santiago de Chile]], the average of the system is six passengers per square meter ({{convert|6|/m2|/sqyd|0|disp=out}}) inside vehicles. Users have reported days where the buses take too long to arrive, and are too overcrowded to accept new passengers.<ref>{{Cite web|title = El pecado original que determinó el fracaso del Transantiago|url =http://radio.uchile.cl/2017/02/10/el-pecado-original-que-determino-el-fracaso-del-transantiago/|website = Diario UChile|date = 10 February 2017}}</ref> As of June 2017, the system has an approval rating of 15% among commuters, and it has lost 27% of its passengers, who have turned mostly to cars.<ref>{{Cite web|title = 10 años de Transantiago: su deterioro y su reemplazo|url =http://www.algarete.com.co/10-anos-de-transantiago-su-deterioro-y-su-reemplazo/|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20170909014649/http://www.algarete.com.co/10-anos-de-transantiago-su-deterioro-y-su-reemplazo/|url-status =usurped|archive-date =9 September 2017|website = Algarete (in spanish)|date = 30 June 2017}}</ref>

In [[Bogotá]] the overcrowding was even worse; the average of [[TransMilenio]] was eight passengers per square meter ({{convert|8|/m2|/sqyd|0|disp=out}}).<ref>{{Cite web|title = ¿Por qué colapsó TransMilenio? |url =http://www.semana.com/nacion/articulo/transmilenio-colapso/379695-3|website = Revista Semana|date = 3 August 2014}}</ref> Only 29% felt satisfied with the system. The data also showed that 23% of the citizens agreed with building more TransMilenio lines, in contrast of the 42% who considered that a [[rapid transit]] system should be built.<ref>{{Cite web|title = El futuro de Transmilenio|url =http://www.bogotacomovamos.org/blog/el-futuro-de-transmilenio/|website = Bogota como vamos|date = 28 August 2014}}</ref> Several cases of sexual assault had been reported by female users in TransMilenio. According to a 2012 survey made by the secretary of the woman of Bogota, 64% of women said they had been victims of sexual assault in the system.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Preocupantes cifras de acoso a mujeres en Transmilenio|url =http://www.noticiasrcn.com/nacional-bogota/preocupantes-cifras-acoso-mujeres-transmilenio|website=noticias RCN|date = 21 August 2013}}</ref> The system had even been ranked as the most dangerous transportation for women.<ref>{{Cite web|title = EXCLUSIVE-POLL: Latin American cities have most dangerous transport for women, NYC best|url = http://news.trust.org//item/20141028235939-edprr/|website = Thomas Reuters Foundation News|date = 29 October 2014|access-date = 25 March 2018|archive-date = 22 November 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221122104311/https://news.trust.org/item/20141028235939-edprr|url-status = dead}}</ref> The poor quality of the system had occasioned an increment in the number of cars and motorcycles in the city; citizens preferred these transportation means over TransMilenio. According to official data, the number of cars increased from approximately 666,000 in 2005 to 1,586,700 in 2016. The number of motorcycles was also growing, with 660,000 sold in Bogota in 2013, two times the number of cars sold.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Los 10 problemas más graves de Bogotá |url =http://www.dw.com/es/los-10-problemas-m%C3%A1s-graves-de-bogot%C3%A1/g-36068986|website = Deutsche Welle|date = 17 October 2016}}</ref>

At the end of 2018 Transmilenio ordered 1383 new buses as a replacement of the older ones in service. 52% were compressed natural gas (CNG) buses made by Scania with Euro 6 emission rating, 48% were diesel engine made by Volvo with Euro 5 emission rating. More (or renewed?) orders have produced an impressive result: "To improve public and environmental health, the City of Bogotá has assembled a fleet of 1,485 electric buses for its public transportation system - placing the city among the three largest e-bus fleets outside of China."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-09 |title=Bogotá Wins 2022 Sustainable Transport Award - Institute for Transportation and Development Policy |url=https://itdp.org/2022/02/09/bogota-wins-2022-sustainable-transport-award/ |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=Institute for Transportation and Development Policy - Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>https://www.itdp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Presentation-Mobilize.pdf Retrieved 2022-09-28</ref>

In the year 2022 Bogotá has won the '''Sustainable Transport Award''', an award given out by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, which is partially funded by bus manufacturers. Reasons stated include the TransMilenio system and its urban cycling strategy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-09 |title=Bogotá Wins 2022 Sustainable Transport Award - Institute for Transportation and Development Policy |url=https://itdp.org/2022/02/09/bogota-wins-2022-sustainable-transport-award/ |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=Institute for Transportation and Development Policy - Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>https://www.itdp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/STA-2022-Award-Ceremony-Press-Release.docx-1.pdf Retrieved 2022-09-30</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taLkKIEYotg |title=2022 STA Ceremony Celebrating Bogotá, Colombia |language=en |access-date=2024-05-08 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>

The system in [[Jakarta]] had been experiencing issues, with complaints of overcrowding in buses and stations and low frequency of the routes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.algarete.com.co/transjakarta-otro-caso-de-exito/|title=Transjakarta : Otro caso de "éxito"|website=algarete (in spanish)|date=25 February 2016|access-date=13 April 2018|archive-date=14 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414010424/http://www.algarete.com.co/transjakarta-otro-caso-de-exito/|url-status=usurped}}</ref> There were extensive safety concerns as well; rampant sexual harassment has been reported,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jakartaglobe.id/archive/another-alleged-sexual-harassment-at-transjakarta-station/|title=Another Alleged Sexual Harassment at Transjakarta Station|newspaper=Jakarta Globe|date=5 December 2012|access-date=25 March 2018|archive-date=22 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122075154/http://jakartaglobe.id/archive/another-alleged-sexual-harassment-at-transjakarta-station/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the fire safety of the buses has been under scrutiny after one of the buses, a Zhongtong imported from China, suddenly and spontaneously caught on fire.<ref>{{Cite web|last=CoconutsJakarta|date=2015-03-13|title=Ahok apologizes for disrupting Transjakarta service as 30 buses are grounded {{!}} Coconuts Jakarta|url=https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/ahok-apologizes-disrupting-transjakarta-service-30-buses-are-grounded/|access-date=2021-04-06|website=Coconuts|language=en-US}}</ref> The quality of the service was so bad that the then-governor of Jakarta, [[Basuki Tjahaja Purnama]], in March 2015 publicly apologized for the poor performance of the system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://globalindonesianvoices.com/19617/jakarta-governor-apologizes-for-lees-than-optimal-transjakarta-busway-services/|title=Jakarta governor apoligezes for less than optimal Transjakarta busway services|website=Global indonesian voices|date=13 March 2015}}</ref>

=== Failures and reversals ===
[[File:Protest against bus rapid transit in Bogotá, 2016.jpg|thumb|upright|Protests in [[TransMilenio]] at the [[Terreros (TransMilenio)|Terreros]] station, 12 February 2016]]
The temporary unpopularity of [[Delhi]]'s BRT (2016)<ref>{{cite news |date= 18 January 2016 |title= Delhi's BRT Corridor to be demolished! |work= News Mobile |url= http://www.newsmobile.in/articles/2016/01/18/delhis-brt-corridor-to-be-demolished/ }}</ref> and the riots and spontaneous user demonstrations in Bogotá (2016)<ref>{{cite news |title= Bloqueo TransMilenio | work = El Tiempo |url= http://www.eltiempo.com/noticias/bloqueo-transmilenio |language = es}}</ref> raised doubts about the ability of BRTs to keep pace with increased ridership. On the other hand the speed of increased BRT ridership confirmed the research finding no general preference for rail over bus, see the end of chapter "[[Bus rapid transit#Comparison with light rail|Comparison with light rail]]". Bogota has regained trust and safety according to the Sustainable Transport Award 2022.

A lack of permanence of BRT has been criticized, with some arguing that BRT systems can be used as an excuse to build roads that others later try to convert for use by non-BRT vehicles. Examples of this can be found in Delhi, where a BRT system was scrapped,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lalchandani |first1=Neha|title=BRT will be scrapped, decides Arvind Kejriwal|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/BRT-will-be-scrapped-decides-Arvind-Kejriwal/articleshow/46708947.cms|website=The Times of India|date=27 March 2015 |access-date=23 May 2017}}</ref> and in [[Aspen, Colorado]], where drivers are lobbying the government to allow mixed-use traffic in former BRT lanes as of 2017, although in other US cities, such as [[Albuquerque]], [[New Mexico]], just the opposite is true.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Carroll|first1=Rick|title=Aspen candidates mull citizen's proposal to open bus lanes to all vehicles|url=http://www.aspentimes.com/news/aspen-candidates-mull-citizens-proposal-to-open-bus-lanes-to-all-vehicles/ |website=The Aspen Times|date=25 April 2017 |access-date=23 May 2017}}</ref> Such exuse might be a side effect of the advantages connected with the flexibility of BRT. <ref>{{cite web |last1=Fjellstrom |first1=Karl |title=Mass Transit Options, 4.4:Flexibility |website=www.gtz.de |url=https://sutp.org/download/8100/?tmstv=1676136996 |publisher=Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit |access-date=24 February 2023}}</ref>

Experts have considered a failure of BRT to land use structure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/947211468162273111/pdf/NonAsciiFileName0.pdf|title=Transforming Cities with Transit: Transit and Land-Use Integration for Sustainable Urban Development|last1=Suzuki|first1=Hiroaki|last2=Cervero|first2=Robert|publisher=The World Bank}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://theconversation.com/south-africa-needs-to-revamp-its-new-public-transport-system-84930|title=South Africa needs to revamp its new public transport system|last=Venter|first=Christo|work=The Conversation|access-date=7 September 2018|language=en}}</ref> Some cities that are sprawled and have no mixed use have insufficient ridership to make BRT economically viable.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/transport-and-tourism/2017-07-10-bus-rapid-transit-system-on-road-to-nowhere-in-gauteng/|title=Bus Rapid Transit system on road to nowhere in Gauteng|access-date=7 September 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> In Africa, the [[African Urban Institute]] criticized the viability of ongoing BRTs across the continent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.africaurban.org/harare-ready-bus-rapid-transit-system/|title=Is Harare ready for Bus Rapid Transit System?|last=Muzenda|first=Archimedes|publisher=African Urban Institute|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907144741/https://www.africaurban.org/harare-ready-bus-rapid-transit-system/|archive-date=7 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>