While some might criticize London's bus system - delays, waiting in the cold, too expensive - in other parts of the world exist amazing bus systems worth a closer look. Curitiba, the largest city in southern Brazil, is one of those great examples from which many cities could learn from.

In 2010, Curitiba was given the Globe Sustainability City Award in recognition for its excellence in sustainable urban development. The city provides an excellent example of the Bus Rapid Transit model: a system that aims at increasing bus speed and dependability by decreasing or getting totally rid of different factors of delay.

This bus system is stratified: first, minibuses go through residential districts, bringing passengers to stations where circumferential buses going around the city center can be found. In turn, these circumferential routes link passengers to the main city buses that operate on five major corridors going into the center.

These five corridors are the backbone of the system. The buses on these run on exclusive bus lanes, so congestion and traffic lights do now halt their circulation. Moreover, fares have to be paid before getting onboard so that there is no delay when getting in. Also, buses open on the same level as the platform, accelerating the getting in/out process. All this allows a very quick service, with some buses running every 90 seconds. Moreover, bus stations are comfortable, well-serviced and nicely-designed, transforming them into attractive refuges for passengers.

Curitiba's bus system is comparable to the tube system: it is fast, reliable and frequent, only it is over ground, and cheaper - a single ticket is 0.40 US cents but this gives you access to the whole transit system with as many changes needed where interchange is possible. Just like when you pay one ticket to access the whole tube system.

The efficiency of the system has allowed about 70% of the city's commuters to use it regularly, which in turn has meant less congestion and less pollution. This system started in 1968 and today it is still operating; only now buses are starting to get powered with bio-fuels, increasing the city's sustainability.

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