Survey: U.S. cities offer WiFi on buses

CINCINNATI, April 11 (UPI) -- At least 20 U.S. cities are providing wireless Internet services on their public buses, an American Public Transportation Association survey indicates.

Mountain Metropolitan Transit in Colorado Springs, Colo., was the first bus system to provide the mobile WiFi in 2004, the survey says. Cincinnati, San Francisco, Reno, Nev., Austin, Texas, and Seattle also are among the cities offering the service, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

WiFi has also become available on some trains. In January, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority made WiFi available on a 45-mile railway stretching from Worchester to Boston.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York said it signed a deal last September to offer WiFi in 277 subways by 2013. The Utah Transit Authority reportedly went wireless in January on 60 buses.

Cities pay about $1,000 to $2,000 per bus for wireless installation, officials said.

American Public Transportation Association President William Miller said people will eventually expect buses to provide WiFi.