Bus systems lure riders with plush seats and Wi-Fi

Think of the typical city bus, and Americans are likely to picture old vehicles with hard seats and noisy brakes that belch diesel fumes as they jerk from stop to stop.

Transit agencies want people to take another look. They are rolling out more attractive and comfortable buses, convenient express routes and even on-board Wi-Fi.

Buses may lack the hipness of subways or light rail, but they are the best hope for accommodating large numbers of new riders quickly and affordably. To harness the increased demand for mass transit, officials are turning to new ways of delivering and marketing their bus service.