Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In

Bus ridership is falling in American cities, and the only way to turn around the trend is to provide better service. Here's one thing nearly every U.S. transit agency should consider to win back riders: "Bus stop balancing," which TransitCenter explains in a new video.

In most cities, bus stops are spaced too closely together. On a local bus route, stops should be within a convenient walking distance of each other -- about a quarter mile. If stops are spaced much more tightly than that, buses spend an excessive amount of time stopped for boarding and at red lights.

The TransitCenter video focuses on New York, where guidelines call for stops to be spaced just 750 feet apart, but the same principles apply in just about every American city:

Transit agencies in San Francisco and Maryland are consolidating bus stops to improve service, TransitCenter reports. A Portland study found bus stop consolidation improved bus speeds 6 percent.

It can be politically difficult for agencies to remove bus stops, since every stop has its constituency. But transit agencies can prioritize which stops should stay. TransitCenter recommends preserving high ridership stops, stops with important connections to other transit lines, and stops near schools, medical centers, or other important destinations.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Waste of Time: Full-Salaried NYPD Cops Now Needed to Enforce the Unprotected Bedford Avenue Bike Lane

Streets that are properly designed — with bike lanes that can't be blocked or narrower lanes in which drivers can't speed — don't need squads of cops to hand out tickets.

August 7, 2025

NYC Could Have Its First Car-Free Neighborhood (But Won’t Get It Due To Revanchist Pols)

Creedmoor should not become just another mixed-use development, but, instead, become America’s next great neighborhood.

Northern Disclosure: Canada’s Road Laws Could Help Save U.S. Lives

The U.S. would be safer if we implemented some of Canada's most common roadway laws — but the politics are complicated.

August 7, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Vanderbilt to Last Edition

We had a lot of problems with a New York Magazine story that forgot the benefits of open streets and outdoor dining. Plus other news.

August 7, 2025

Construction Begins On Deliverista Hub Highlighting Need For More Infrastructure

It's one small hub for a few humans, but what's needed is a giant leap for humankind.

August 6, 2025

It’s Back! 34th Street Busway Revived In Midtown Rezoning Deal

The Adams administration has agreed to create a 34th Street busway as part an agreement to rezone a slice of Midtown.

August 6, 2025
See all posts