Bus Stops

[Couvs 0]

when I was reading a walkthrough on IGN, it said that bus stops are only places where sims board the bus and that they disembark anywhere they please.  But I was just reading through the SC4 Deluxe manual and it said that if you place a bus stop near an elevated or subway train station it would encourage sims from more distant neighbourhoods to use the bus + train.  seemed to contradict what I read was the way the bus system works.

[Cougar2004 127]

I believe from my experience in the game that Busses only let on and off at bus stops.

[Couvs 0]

the way the walkthrough put it is that they only get on the bus at stops but they'll get off the bus anywhere.  the manual suggests otherwise so I'm confused.

[The Arrowz 3]

They only get on and off at bus stops; once they get off, they can walk a good bit to their destination.

For me though, any bus + el-rail system doesn't work too well Although bus + subway/GLR/train does work for me.

[Framling 1]

I remember that, tutorial and/or game manual said so, though I've already been playing the game for some time when I saw it and it's utter nonsense. Sims ONLY get off the bus at stops, same with the tube. Interestingly enough, sometimes the transit query arrows seem to indicate Sims actually do jump off railway trains though.

[Linda 0]

In SimCity 3000 I think they could get off anywhere; but in Sim City 4/ Sim City Delux, they only get on and off at bus-stops. At least that's my understanding/experience.

[tungston 19]

That is true with all of the transit stations, one to load, and one to unload.

[xxbydesign 1]

one to load AND unload, but yes, the structure or lot needs to be there so a ride can transfer between being a passenger and a pedestrian

[RisKFactoR 6]

If you plop a single bus stop in your city, there is a red article saying something to the effect of a "one bus stop wonder" or something like that. So yes, sims only load/unload at busstops.

I have playing for a very long time now, and I find it MOST effective to use ONLY the bus/subway station. You can d/l it somewhere on the STEX. Not sure where though.

What I do, I like to place these sub/bus stops at regular intervals, about 1 every 3 or 4 blocks in a grid pattern. Then run the tube directly under, or next to/under the stop, criscrossing the tubes so it looks like a checker board when you go to underground view. Basically, lay the tube exactly how you would lay your pipes, only much further apart (They are VERY expensive.) Lay them at the same intervals that you lay your stops. Prefferably plopping your stations at the busiest intersections. Try to avoid plopping them in the MIDDLE of a block.

If your city is not built in a grid-like fashion, try to lay the stops and tubes in a grid-like fashion anyway.

[Couvs 0]

ok the talk about the tubes & water brings up another question:  what happens with water pipes ending up intersecting subways?  do the subways actually go deeper (as i would expect they would) and it's therefore not a problem?  I havent yet gotten to the point where I need subways I think (certainly cant afford it)

[sethtriggs 9]

There's no effect of the pipes on the subways. They are both considered different "layers" in a sense; and your pipes are not visible when you're laying track and/or stations.

-Seth

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Watch the distance to boarding points for any station.  Sims are laxy, and will only walk a total of 8 or 9 blocks total getting to/from work.

One way to make an el more effective is to place a parking garage across the street from some of the stations.  This gives a commuter a short drive to park and grab the train.  Don't forget to put bus service/GLR/subway in the work areas to they can get from the train terminus to the job.