Must RSVP to attend.

Imagine a bus system that is fast, frequent, and reliable—how would that change your city?

Buses can and should be the cornerstone of urban transportation, but in the U.S., they have long been an afterthought in budgeting and planning. But fortunately that is changing. A new generation of activists, planners, and elected leaders have recognized the power of better bus service to affordably connect people with jobs, healthcare, and everything they need to live their lives.

In a new book, Better Buses, Better Cities: How to Plan, Run, and Win the Fight for Effective Transit, TransitCenter Director of Research Steven Higashide chronicles real-world stories of reform, such as Houston redrawing its bus network overnight, Boston making room on its streets to put buses first, and Indianapolis winning better bus service at the ballot box. It explains what a successful bus system looks like and the importance of strong civic advocacy and public management in achieving it.

Join TransitCenter for a discussion featuring Steven and two transit reformers whose stories are told in the book—Stacy Thompson of Boston’s LivableStreets Alliance, and Kurt Luhrsen of Houston METRO.

Books will be available for purchase and Steven will be signing copies following the program.

Moderator:

Henry Grabar, Staff writer at Slate

Panelists:

• Steven Higashide, Director of Research at TransitCenter
• Kurt Luhrsen, Vice President of Planning at Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County
• Stacy Thompson, Executive Director of LivableStreets Alliance

Light refreshments to be served.

Event is free and open to the public. An RSVP does not guarantee a seat.

We kindly request that you arrive no earlier than 6pm.

Join Next City for a webinar with Steven Higashide, who will discuss his new book Better Buses, Better Cities: How to Plan, Run, and Win the Fight for Effective Transit, on Wednesday, November 20 at 1 p.m. Eastern time.

In Better Buses, Better Cities, transit expert Steven Higashide shows us what a successful bus system looks like with real-world stories of reform — such as Houston redrawing its bus network overnight, Boston making room on its streets to put buses first, and Indianapolis winning better bus service on Election Day. Higashide shows how to marshal the public in support of better buses and how new technologies can keep buses on time and make complex transit systems understandable.

Join author and transit expert Steven Higashide to discuss his new book published by Island Press: Better Buses, Better Cities: How to Plan, Run, and Win the Fight for Effective Transit. This event aims to help DC advocates learn from a national expert about how we can win the fight for better buses. This book talk follows Coalition for Smarter Growth’s release of the DC Metrobus report card and the region’s Bus Transformation Project’s recommendations. Smart Growth America and Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies are an event hosts and sponsors. 

TransitCenter Director of Research Steven Higashide shows us what a successful bus system looks like with real-world stories of reform—such as Houston redrawing its bus network overnight, Boston making room on its streets to put buses first, and Indianapolis winning better bus service on Election Day. Higashide shows how to marshal the public in support of better buses and how new technologies can keep buses on time and make complex transit systems understandable.

Higashide argues the consequences of subpar transit service fall most heavily on vulnerable members of society. Transit systems should be planned to be inclusive and provide better service for all. These are difficult tasks that require institutional culture shifts; doing all of them requires resilient organizations and transformational leadership.

Copies of Better Buses, Better Cities will be sold on-site. A book signing will follow the program.

While there’s been a sharp decline in public transit use right now, it’s proven that having greater access to transit in general is vital for the functioning of safe, equitable, and environmentally friendly cities. But what makes for effective transit? How do you advocate for it? And how can cities utilize the bus to create fast, frequent, and reliable service?

In this webinar you’ll hear from two transit experts: Christof Spieler, author of Trains, Buses, People: An Opinionated Atlas of US Transit, and Steven Higashide, author of Better Buses, Better Cities: How to Plan, Run, and Win the Fight for Effective Transit. Both will explain how we can make better use of our current transit systems in clear ways for decision-makers, philanthropists, activists, and public agency leaders. Together, they’ll show how these groups can work together to make the transit a win in any city.

Often dismissed by the general public, the humble bus is the underdog workhorse of public transit. Here in the U.S., buses have long been an afterthought in budgeting and planning, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Across the world, buses serve as the foundation of fast, reliable and inclusive transportation networks. The book, Better Buses, Better Cities, describes the implementable steps necessary to marshal widespread support and strengthen collaboration between everyone from community activists to transportation department heads in order to evolve the role of the bus on our streets. Join the book’s author, Steven Higashide, for an inspiring look at why a better bus system can create a better city for everyone. Hosted by SPUR.