I visited Curitiba just a few months ago, and used their bus system extensively. Their system is, in my opinion, much better than the systems I've tried around the US. The bus stops are in the form of small enclosed tubes along the sides of the roadway. As you say, passengers pay to enter the tubes through a turnstile, and can then wait in relative comfort. The system also feels especially safe, since each stop has an attendant. Curitiba's bus system also seems to be very popular among the city's residents.
Slashdot Mirror
I visited Curitiba just a few months ago, and used their bus system extensively. Their system is, in my opinion, much better than the systems I've tried around the US. The bus stops are in the form of small enclosed tubes along the sides of the roadway. As you say, passengers pay to enter the tubes through a turnstile, and can then wait in relative comfort. The system also feels especially safe, since each stop has an attendant. Curitiba's bus system also seems to be very popular among the city's residents.