Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In

It's not something you hear often in transit-rich areas, but in cities and towns across the U.S., the specter of the "empty bus" looms large.

Jarrett Walker at Network Blog Human Transit points us to a video from the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, in west-central Florida, which has produced a series of educational shorts on how its buses work. The latest episode of "Bus Buzz" addresses the myth of the empty bus. Using video from bus security cameras, a PSTA spokesperson explains how ridership ebbs and flows depending on the route and time of day.

This ingenious public relations campaign would translate well to most any transit system, regardless of size. With so many transit agencies trying to improve service, often while suffering from budget woes, there’s plenty of fodder for this kind of public outreach.

Elsewhere today: The Wash Cycle dissects the arguments in favor of a bill that would make bike helmets mandatory in Maryland; Bike Portland gauges reaction to President Obama's pick for Interior secretary; and Green Lane Project Blog examines how cyclist stress influences bike maps.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday’s Headlines Got DOGE’d Again

Amidst uncertainty about future federal funding, Amtrak is cutting $100 million and 450 jobs.

May 9, 2025

Friday Video: Where Was the First Public Bus Route in the World?

...and which surprising historical figure helped launch it?

May 9, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: ‘Normal’ is Not Correct, Someone Died Here

After a crash, the debris is quickly cleaned up and everyone moves on (usually too quickly). But these two experts are asking us to all slow down.

May 8, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines Are Not Gonna Pay a Lot for This Truck

President Trump's tariffs, along with rising insurance costs, are driving down Americans' interest in owning a car.

May 8, 2025

How One Suburb is Using Transit to Transform Into a True City

A Washington State suburb may be poised to evolve into a true transit-oriented hub – and offer lessons for other bedroom communities, even during an anti-transit era.

May 8, 2025
See all posts