Fun fact: Route 250 which I ride towards the end of the video is scheduled to have one of the next Pulse services. This route will run from Davis station in Evanston to O’Hare Airport.

Route 270 stops at the Pulse stations, but it also stops at many other stops between them. Depending on the time of day it can be a little or a lot slower. The two routes combine to provide more frequent service along Milwaukee. Pulse service was originally supposed to be every 10 minutes (which would be better than almost any Pace route), but that was reduced during COVID.

Great to have your take on this 'con' of trying to persuade us that a bus is a train. In the UK we have several BRT systems and the best ones have substantial sections of segregated busway. They are no more than slightly faster bus lines...not trains. I also fully agree that wraps on buses and trains are an abomination and only serve the operator not the passenger who wants a good view our of the window. I think there is a place for superior bus routes, but they are not awesome. 😄

I've been on the Pulse Jefferson Park line before as well. While the frequency is nice (by Pace standards, buses run every 15 - 30 minutes), the buses are just standard Pace buses with purple livery and on board screens. In other words, it's just an express bus, and not actual BRT. In addition, the 270 Milwaukee bus has been cut to once every hour (60 minute) service, leaving riders to walk up to 4 extra blocks to reach their destination. I was more impressed by the 600 Rosemont-Schaumburg Express, which uses coach-style seats that recline, and offers express service from the Rosemont CTA station to the Northwest Transportation Center (in Schaumburg).

If you're ever in LA check out LA Metro G Line (Orange) BRT in the San Fernando Valley. I runs in a 90% in a dedicated right of way and has bus fare payment by TAP Card at stations and dedicated stations. One negative is it has intersections with major streets, but it does have signal priority.

Having a unreliable bus service is one thing the one thing I generally dislike is when these buses I generally dislike when these buses are completely wrapped so you can barely see anything outside the window

3:53

Hi Thom. Thanks for sharing the video. It's interesting to see America's take on the BRT. I know San Jose, California has one. Here across the pond in the UK, we have quite a few systems such as the Leigh-Salford- Manchester BRT, Luton to Dunstable Busway and the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. Looking forward to Saturdays video 🙂

OMG!

Pace south is eventually going to be running a Pulse service down Halsted to 95th. It would've been great, with dedicated bus lanes, but the city said no.

great video, keep up the good work!

I didn't catch it in the vid, but in the suburbs, Pulse is able to extend a green light to expedite the trip.

I love Thoms high energy. It's contagious.

We have a BRT line here in Richmond, VA that’s really nice - it’s called GRTC Pulse

I have a different perspective on the Pulse system. Interestingly, I have taken the exact same routes you demonstrate in the video: Dempster Ave., from the Yellow Line to Milwaukee, and the Milwaukee Ave. one from there to Jefferson St. Station. Most, but not all, of the buses are of the "new and improved" type. That said, I enjoy the newer buses a lot more than you indicate in the video. The stops are much nicer (as you say), but the frequency of service (which you knock) is a vast improvement to ordinary Pace service. The 250 Dempster route runs every 30, or sometimes, every 60 minute, intervals. So, 10-15 minute intervals have been a game changer for my transit to work along that line.

6:08

Man the fact that a circumferential bus corridor going literally through farm fields beyond the edge of Copenhagen in Denmark has the same level of service and general design philosophy as this supposed BRT line in one of Americas biggest cities is just... Im lost for words.

Been at this station numerous times as I always either came from Elmhurst or rode to Elmhurst. Also rode Metra out of Jefferson Park when needed as well

I would not say BRT has failed. This just was not done right. Indygo has an amazing BRT system that literally feels like a train. Same with Cleveland and Eugene.

Kind of reminds me of Metroway in Arlington VA. It looks cool in some parts, but is terrible for a BRT. To name a few problems: