Think train - see bus

TEXT: PER-OLA KNUTAS

As private motorists jam the streets of the world’s cities, city planners are turning to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems − smart, comprehensive city bus solutions that transform buses into a kind of tram with rubber wheels.

Compared with urban rail, BRT systems are far cheaper to build than rail networks: USD 1–10 million per kilometer compared with USD 40–220 per kilometer for an underground metro rail network, according to German technical consultancy GTZ. The time required from plan to fully built system is also shorter: 12 to 18 months for an urban BRT network compared with three to 30 years for a metro system.

And of course it is a huge gain for the environment if 150 commuters can be persuaded to ride an environmentally friendly bus route instead of driving 120 private cars.

Today there are some 200 BRT systems worldwide, either in operation or being planned. So far countries in Latin America and Asia have invested the most in these systems. In Colombia, BRTs are found in Bogotá and six other cities. Mexico has 10 BRT systems, including one in Mexico City. In China, where urban areas are expanding rapidly, there are now BRT networks in some 15 cities, with Guangzhou (10 million inhabitants) joining the list in 2010. The United States now has BRTs up and running in 36 cities and more are expected.

Scania’s references

Scania has delivered about 2,000 buses to BRT systems worldwide to cities such as Adelaide and Brisbane (Australia), Bogotá (Colombia), Guayaquil and Quito (Ecuador), Mexico City (Mexico, Johannesburg (South Africa) and São Paulo (Brazil).

Scania buses suitable for BRT systems are from 12 to 20 metres long. Sustainable fuels such as biodiesel, biogas and ethanol are available.

Scania buses feature a flexible platform for connections to various IT solutions, which are often a key element of BRT systems.