Skip-stop

Skip-stop is a public transit service pattern which reduces travel times and increases capacity by having vehicles skip certain stops along a route.

In rapid transit systems in the United States, stations tend to be close together (approximately 800 metres (2,600 ft) in 1976),[1] and so trains struggle to reach high speeds.

[5] The Chicago Transit Authority invented skip-stop service in 1948 as a means of speeding up old trains it inherited when it took over from private operators.

Skip-stop operation reduces travel time and increases the number of buses that the streets and bus stops are able to accommodate.

A disadvantage with skip-stops is that passengers may have to walk farther or change buses to catch their intended bus, which increases travel time.

If there is a large amount of other traffic on the street or only a single bus lane is provided, then buses have difficulty passing each other and much of the benefit of using skip-stops is not realized.

In Seattle, WA, which has an extensive local and regional bus system operated by three different transit agencies, skip-stops are used on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Avenues in the downtown area.

In The Honeymooners, Episode 32, "Opportunity Knocks But", Ed Norton (Art Carney) impresses Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason)'s boss with his suggestions for improving the bus company, including the offering of "odd" and "even" lines.