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The ABQ Ride RBT buses are articulated low floor vehicles.  I think the rear seat of the second unit is on a raised platform, but I cannot be sure.  I did not pay that close attention.  The engine is in the rear of the vehicle.  As far as I noticed, the buses appeared to be powered the same way the articulated buses in Dallas were powered; that is to say via a mechanical drive train. There are two rapid routes.  The 766 runs across the city on old U.S. Route 66, and the 790 runs from the western part of the city to the University of New Mexico campus.  During the weekday the 766 runs every 11 minutes, so if you miss one the wait for the next bus is minimal.  I rode the buses from one end to the other of the rapid route during the weekday.  They were well patronized.  The fare, by the way, is 35 cent for seniors as well as other discount riders.  It is a dollar for others. The stations are clearly marked as Rapid Ride stops.  Most of them are covered, with bench seating for wanna be passengers.  They are lighted during the early morning and late evening hours.  Easy to read signs tell waiting passengers when the next bus will arrive.  In those instances when I caught the bus at the U of New Mexico, the bus arrived just when the indicator said that it would. Part of Route 66 has been stripped to give the rapid buses a dedicated lane, but other vehicles may use them if they are turning right.  One of the drivers told me that the buses can control a lane change light at one or two points along the route, but they cannot change or delay a changing traffic light.  He told me that management is hopeful of getting that capability with the next go around of technology.  The ABQ drivers that I talked to were friendly and helpful.  Installing RBT costs a fraction of what it costs to implement light and commuter rail.  In many if not most instances, especially where rail rights-of-way do not exist, RBT is probably a better option.  It is clearly a better cost decision except in the minds of those who think cost is irrelevant.   I experienced two downers whilst using public transit in Albuquerque.  At the Uptown location several youths boarded the bus.  They managed to use every four letter word imaginable in the loudest possible voices before they got off the bus about three stops later.  On another bus, a passenger brought a soda on the bus.  When he opened it, it sprayed over two or three other passengers.  Fortunately, I did not get the shower.  The drivers did nothing about the foul mouthed youths or opening a soda can on the bus, which is prohibited.  However, on another occasion, the drive prohibited a young man from getting on the bus with an open container. I also noticed that the ABQ Ride would be operating no buses on Memorial Day.  That makes for a difficult situation for those people who depend on public transit to get around.  But the RRE, which does normally operate on Sundays and holidays, was scheduled to operate on Sunday and Memorial Day.  Go figure!
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