"tim" wrote in message ...

IMHO it's a stupid idea. If the routes are overground then they will
get stuck in the traffic just like the buses and if they are underground
the'll be prohibitively expensive. If a dedicated route is the solution
then why not just build one for buses, it will be cheaper and much
more flexible

Because buses are (rightly or wrongly) seen as a low-quality transport
method of last resort for poor people. IMHO people generally don't
like travelling by bus because they are cramped, dirty, unreliable and
full of wierdos. You can argue that none of these qualities are
inherent to the bus and that with good planning etc etc... and you
would probably be right, but the travelling public's perception does
matter.

What I'm trying to say is that you could build all the bus routes (as
I said - cramped, dirty, unreliable and full of wierdos) you want but
compared to a tram (new, shiny, aspirational) you'll have a devil of a
time persuading people to use them.

--
sandy