In a lot of US cities, (particularly the mid-size and smaller cities that don't have Trains/Subways/Light Rail) busing isn't treated as transportation, it's tre

In a lot of US cities, (particularly the mid-size and smaller cities that don't have Trains/Subways/Light Rail) busing isn't treated as transportation, it's treated like a welfare program, similar to Food Stamps / EBT or Section 8 / subsidized housing. http://www.vox.com/2015/8/10/9118199/public-transportation-subway-buses http://www.vox.com/2015/8/10/9118199/public-transportation-s... This is compounded by the fact that in most of these types of cities, most of the jobs and/or the "best" jobs (highest paying, most stable, best health insurance benefits, etc) are located in the suburbs, where transit is least available. Often these places can "opt-out" of transit altogether. http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/stephen-henderson/2015/02/22/detroit-bus-transit/23775245/ http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/stephen-hender... (subheading: "Designed for failure")