Editing Bus rapid transit (section)

== Main features ==
{{Main|BRT Standard}}
BRT systems normally include most of the following features:

=== Dedicated lanes and alignment ===
[[File:Transjakarta Pemuda Pramuka 2.jpg|thumb|[[Transjakarta]] buses use separate lanes to avoid [[traffic congestion|congested roads]].]]
[[File:Xiamen BRT 18m.jpg|right|thumb|Elevated BRT system in [[Xiamen]]]]
[[File:RichmondHillCentre7.jpg|thumb|A [[Viva Rapid Transit|Viva]] bus in [[York Region]], north of Toronto, Canada, demonstrates many features of BRT; elaborate stations, comfortable express buses, unique branding, and coloured 'lines' rather than route numbers.]]
Bus-only lanes make for faster travel and ensure that buses are not delayed by mixed [[traffic congestion]]. A median alignment bus-only keeps buses away from busy curb-side side conflicts, where cars and trucks are parking, standing and turning. Separate rights of way may be used such as the completely elevated [[Xiamen BRT]]. [[Transit mall]]s or 'bus streets' may also be created in city centers.

=== Off-board fare collection ===
Fare prepayment at the station, instead of on board the bus, eliminates the delay caused by passengers paying on board. Fare machines at stations also allow riders to purchase multi-ride stored-value cards and have multiple payment options. Prepayment also allows riders to board at all doors, further speeding up stops.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pryne |first=Eric |date=August 3, 2003 |title=When is a bus more like a train? |page=A1 |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001368033_brt03m0.html |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031207180734/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001368033_brt03m0.html |archive-date=December 7, 2003 |accessdate=January 15, 2025}}</ref>

=== Bus priority, turning and standing restrictions ===
Prohibiting turns for traffic across the bus lane significantly reduces delays to the buses. [[Bus priority]] will often be provided at signalized intersections to reduce delays by extending the green phase or reducing the red phase in the required direction compared to the normal sequence. Prohibiting turns may be the most important measure for moving buses through intersections.

=== Platform-level boarding ===
[[File:Cultural Centre busway station February 2016.jpg|thumb|[[Cultural Centre busway station]] in [[Brisbane]], [[Australia]]]]
The station platforms for BRT systems should be level with the bus floor for quick and easy boarding, making it fully accessible for wheelchairs, disabled passengers and baby strollers, with minimal delays.

High-level platforms for high-floored buses makes it difficult to have stops outside dedicated platforms, or to have conventional buses stop at high-level platforms, so these BRT stops are distinct from street-level bus stops. Similar to rail vehicles, there is a risk of a [[platform gap|dangerous gap between bus and platform]], and is even greater due to the nature of bus operations. [[Kassel curb]]s or other methods may be used to ease quick and safe alignment of the BRT vehicle with a platform.

A popular compromise is [[low-floor bus]]es with a low step at the door, which can allow easy boarding at low-platform stops compatible with other buses. This intermediate design may be used with some low- or medium-capacity BRT systems.

The MIO system in Santiago de Cali, Colombia, pioneered in 2009 the use of dual buses, with doors on the left side of the bus that are located at the height of high-level platforms, and doors on the right side that are located at curb height. These buses can use the main line with its exclusive lanes and high level platforms, located on the center of the street and thus, boarding and leaving passengers on the left side. These buses can exit the main line and use normal lanes that share with other vehicles and stop at regular stations located on sidewalks on the right side of the street.<!-- The article doesn't speak about diminishing queues on main line stations -->