Bus rapid transit (BRT) systems are one of the most practical ways for cities to improve mobility without building a full rail system. They use buses but come with advantages often associated with rail.
BRT can include dedicated lanes, priority at intersections, high-capacity vehicles, accessible stations and faster boarding. The aim is simple: move more people faster and more reliably.It gives cities flexibility and can be built faster than rail – without the high costs associated with tram and light-rail systems. It can also be adapted to different urban contexts, from dense megacities to medium-sized cities and growing metropolitan areas.
Here are four examples from Türkiye, Denmark, the UK and Mexico, showcasing the scope and impact of BRT systems.
Istanbul: Operating at metropolitan scale
Istanbul’s Metrobüs shows what BRT can deliver in a large, complex city. It is built for very high demand.
The network accommodates around one million journeys per day on a 52km corridor. It operates 24/7 on dedicated infrastructure and provides a fast alternative to congested road traffic.
The result is better mobility and measurable environmental gains.
The system removes around 100,000 private vehicles from traffic, reduces carbon emissions by 760 tonnes per day and saves passengers significant time. Each passenger saves an estimated 52 minutes per day. (....)