Quote Originally Posted by emu steve View Post
In Fairfax County [[Va.) there is an 'express' bus system.

The 'highlight' is that the bus runs [[uses) the express [[high occupancy) lanes of the expressway [[e.g., 395 from the Pentagon) and then along regular bus routes. Customers pay premium fares for the convenience of a ride which avoids the slow [[non-high occupancy) lanes. The subway and bus system uses 'smart cards' so folks just swipe it instead of paying cash.

There are also bus lines for those who live longer distances from D.C. - these buses have restrooms, etc.

In the D.C. area, buses are a necessity. Folks take them to connect to the subway system.

These bus systems serve folks without cars BUT mostly folks who work at the Pentagon, downtown, etc. but would never dream of driving their cars there.
The premium express routes also carry a premium price here in sunny San Diego; the price tag is $5.00, which is more than twice the nominal in town fare of $2.25. These express buses are brand new and luxurious, more like chartered buses. Their destinations are backcountry and cities on the fringes of the system. A few stops downtown and then these super cruisers hit the highway – and its up, up and away – not making another stop for miles. There are express lanes in San Diego County as well, there is very little traffic on them.

And now enter Rapid buses; which according to our mega public transportation company – these are being rolled out to compliment the express bus routes.
I would assert the majority of the riders on these rural routes own a vehicle, they have opted to join the leave the driving to us group.