Pew Pew Laser Blog

Natural Laws of Public Transit.

There are a few "natural laws" of riding public transit that I have noticed over several years of bus ridership.

• Slightly early buses tend to become very early buses as they progress along their route. As passengers miss the slightly early bus, the bus saves time and becomes even earlier. The same is also true for a very slightly late bus; it will have to pick up more passengers, and become even later.
• If one bus is early, the next one will probably be late. That second bus must to pick up the passengers who missed the first bus.
• If one bus is late, the next one will probably be early. The first bus has picked up some passengers who otherwise would have had to wait for that second bus.
• Buses tend to be more crowded, and hence later, during inclement weather. Some walkers will ride the bus if it's raining, and many drivers will ride during snow or ice.
• Most of the time, a bus will be at the front of a line of traffic. Stops along its route will cause the bus to be the slowest traveler in its traffic lane.
• Buses will tend to run earlier on federal and school holidays. There is less street traffic, and it only takes a bit less traffic to make a big difference. There are also fewer passengers, which means fewer stops and less load time.

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