The local bus service is pretty good...Certain routes can speed you along greater distances, when the traffic is not nuts...The highly suburban routes with lots of business' on them, it is stop and go and constant pick ups; it is not a challenge to beat those buses...
But, if you have an errand 70 miles away , the routes are somewhat suburban and it is not rush hour....I like using those buses to increase a ride's potential commute distance ( by at least double) what I would do without any bus service..As long as the bike racks are not full..But in heavy traffic, beating a bus is a easy race.