Cross-cultural contrasts of preferences for bus rapid transit and light rail transit

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is relatively unpopular in developed economies despite its appeal in delivering high-quality services, usually at a fraction of light rail transit (LRT) costs. This is often linked to emotional bias towards rail-based solutions and an image perception that clouds the merits of a bus-based system. This paper builds on research from Australia, extended by the results of a stated choice experiment conducted in the USA, France, Portugal, and the UK, to verify whether modal preferences are culture-specific, and what the drivers of community preferences for BRT and LRT are in different geographical settings.