But startups are working hard to make buses athingagain.
In 2018, the company became the first to test ebuses on long-distance bus routes.
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Theyacquired Greyhoundin October 2021 for a hefty 148 million ($172 million).
Since then, the company has branched out to trains, offeringFlixTrains, powered by 100% renewable energy.
Time for a rallying cry for rail?
Verdict:Flixmobility is reliant on attracting and retaining bus drivers willing to drive long distances.
Pretty much my idea of hell.
Youre also at the behest of traffic, withmany complaintsabout buses leaving early without passengers or departing hours late.
The Jet
Look no further thanThe Jetif youre looking for a more classy way to travel.
The US company markets itself as a purveyor of affordable first-class bus travel.
Its buses seat a maximum of 14 passengers, with a 1.8m (6ft) wide aisle.
Even better is motion-canceling technology that eliminates 90% of all bumps and vibration from the road.
Scorecard:?????
Drinks, snacks, good wifi, bookable seats… hell yes.
Mercedes-Benz unveiled plans for a futuristic self-driving bus in 2016.
I have no idea what that means either.
Passengers board via open sliding doors.
Seats sit along the walls in asymmetrical groups.
The seats are white shells with padding.
Verdict:This is probably designed more for local rather than long-distance journeys.
Some nice design elements per se, but man, those seats look uncomfortable.
Too much risk of touching another human as the bus takes a sharp corner.
EasyMile
French startupEasyMilehas created the EZ10, mini electric buses that carry up to 12 people.
Easy Mile was the first company to offer a fully driverless operation of an autonomous shuttle.
Verdict:Cmon, who wouldnt want to ride an autonomous bus?
So there you have it, a few different options for making buses cool again.
Would you ride in one?
Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin.
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