Also, no diesel fumes on an electric street car make the journey much more pleasant for many.
Re:To fix L.A.'s traffic, we need tolls
by ptaipale on Wednesday March 08, 2017 @12:42AM
(#13818201)
True, although buses are going hybrid/electric, for instance in my town electric buses started on one line over a year ago:
https://www.hsl.fi/en/news/2015/first-fast-charging-electric...
Then neighbouring Helsinki:
https://www.hsl.fi/en/news/2017/helsinkis-first-fully-electr...
It's very small still, of course, but seems to progress without major problems. (They make a point about the exceptional arrangement for the risky investment, i.e. the municipal company bought and operates these buses themselves; normally they just organize the procurement of transport services from private companies who own the buses and hire drivers.)
On the other hand, buses are far more flexible; a minor glitch like an accident or someone unloading their moving goods stops a tram on the street totally, because it absolutely doesn't go round any obstacle. Buses do.