Please Help: Questions on Mass Transit

[BillGinCT 1]

I feel like an idiot. I just can't seem to get a good mass transit system going. I get like 4 passengers. It's ridiculous.

 

I have tried searching the forum without much success. If you have a link to a placement tutorial, that would be helpful.

 

A screen shot of your best mass transit system placement would be fantastic so at least I can get an idea of what I am doing wrong. Even if you are using MODS. Anything that functions well would be helpful. 

 

I really would appreciate your input, advice, etc.

 

How close together should I be placing subway stations?

Do I want them in low . medium, dense residential, commercial, industrial areas?

Should I be using the parking garages and where should I be putting them?

Do I need bus stops too or can I do without them?

[z1 566]

The most important thing to know about mass transit is that you need to use the NAM traffic simulator (a default part of the NAM) to get really good results.

 

How close together should I be placing subway stations?

 

You will find that you get best results when you place them a block apart.  No, this is not realistic, but it's how the game works.  Also, the more subway lines, the better.  Again, the game is just built this way.

 

 

Do I want them in low . medium, dense residential, commercial, industrial areas?

 

For best results, use all of the above.  If your different zone types are mixed closely together, subways are less necessary, though.  They're also less necessary in small cities.

 

 

Should I be using the parking garages and where should I be putting them?

 

They're pretty much optional, but if you use them, they should be at the edge of your residential areas, right next to mass transit.

 

 

Do I need bus stops too or can I do without them?

 

In general, buses are important.  The only time you don't need buses is if you go really crazy with your subways (like me) and put a line under every road and a station every block.