Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bus Rapid Transit

Streetfilms: Curitiba, the Cradle of Bus Rapid Transit

Since adopting its master plan in 1968, Curitiba, Brazil has become a beacon for inventive urban planning and
public transportation. The city's pioneering Bus Rapid Transit system inspired the implementation of BRT in many other cities, including TransMilenio in Bogotá, Colombia; Metrovia in Guayaquil, Ecuador; as well as the Orange Line in Los Angeles.

In this Streetfilm, former Curitiba mayor Jaime Lerner talks about the origins of his city's BRT and the expansion that followed. Curitiba's current planners also discuss how they're improving the system to keep it modern and functioning at the
capacity of a typical subway system. The city is currently
experimenting with smart traffic lights to prioritize buses and with new passing lanes on the dedicated BRT routes. They're even
constructing a new bus route that will run parallel to a linear park and 18km of bike
lanes.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

MTA Demands Albany Deal With Toll Evasion Already

A new analysis of toll evasion found that the amount of money owed by drivers who don't pay paper toll invoices has more than doubled since 2022, from $147 million in unpaid tolls to nearly $350 million.

March 12, 2026

Hochul’s Car Insurance Plan Blows Fraud Way Out Of Proportion: Stats

Gov. Hochul's proposal to lower car insurance premiums is built on suspected fraud. But a body of evidence reveals that there really is very little.

March 12, 2026

Memo to Mamdani: Make This Summer’s World Cup A Car-Free Paradise

Mayor Mamdani should bring the city's joyful, global football culture out onto the streets.

March 12, 2026

Thursday’s Headlines: Another Outlet Heard From Edition

We're not so full of ourselves that we can't praise other outlets. Plus other news.

March 12, 2026

Trump’s Funding Freeze Has Derailed Transit, Undermining Growth and Economic Opportunity For All Americans: Report

American cities used to have some of the longest per-capita rail networks in the world. Not anymore.

March 11, 2026
See all posts