Originally Posted by
Roody
Greater loading efficiency, wherever it comes from, should lead to quicker service and fewer late arrivals. That would be a good thing!
Well, that depends on whether you find regularly pulling off the road and sitting stationary for a bit to be a "good thing" in part; buses CANNOT be early and have to find delays wherever they can to keep behind schedule on some days.
By far, the largest delay in service is the farebox; some bus systems have gone to free fares because the resulting increase in efficiency was worth more than the fares. Also, American buses usually have unusually narrow loading doors, forcing single file boarding, which greatly exacerbates this problem. Bicycle loading and unloading times are relatively minor in comparison and are trivial compared to the board and disembark time for wheelchairs, which must be strapped into place by a bus employee.