This is an ad for D.C.'s new "Downtown Circulator" bus. The Circulator is testing out some novel ideas for city buses in the U.S. The typical perception of buses is that they're dirty, run mystifying routes and never come on time. The Circulator aims to change all that. And, apparently, to score single riders some dates.
Here are the improvements. First, the Circulator runs two simple, linear routes through downtown D.C. You can see them in the ad, one running down the girl's spine and the other through the guy's groping arm. Why does this matter? Because every other bus route in the city looks as windy and twisted as a Senate district in California. Even if a Circulator passenger somehow fails to find love on the bus, at least she knows she won't get lost.
Second, the Circulator is never late. That's because there's no schedule. Instead, it runs every 5 to 10 minutes, from 7 am to 9 pm every day. I've taken this bus twice, and neither time have I waited for more than 2 minutes. There is no greater enticement to get people to ride public transit than frequent service. If riders have faith that the bus will come soon, they'll take the bus. If they fear, from experience, that the bus will show up 20 minutes late, they won't.
Finally, the Circulator costs a flat buck. No need for change. Cheaper than e-Harmony, too.
The Circulator is still catching on. It's only been running for a few weeks. Let's just say I haven't had any problem finding a seat. (I haven't seen any young couples nuzzling on the bus, either.) There are surely people who think the $6 million operating subsidy--paid for by D.C., the feds and the private sector--is a waste. I disagree. The Circulator will tell us a lot about whether we can improve the experience of riding the bus--and cities everywhere will want to know the answer.
