Founded in 2009 by Andy Didorosi, who’s only 26 years old, the Detroit Bus Company is a bit of an anomaly in this city—not only do their bio-fuel powered buses fill a rather sizable gap in the Motor City’s mass transit system, but they are a privately-owned company to boot.
They’re also a lot of fun, as we learned when the Shinola team brought a group of journalists aboard one of their buses for a tour of the city.
We got to speak with Andy recently about what led him to start his own bus company, and what he expects from the future of mass transit in Detroit.
Where are you from, and how long have you been in Detroit?
I was born in Detroit at the DMC right in Midtown. I was raised in Harper Woods and I live in Boston Edison now. I’ll be here for life.
Where did you get the idea to start a bus company?
I’ve always felt that our city deserves better transit, and when the M-1 Light Rail line was introduced I saw it as a great first step towards fast, usable transit in the area and a harbinger of bigger and better things. When it was announced that the Light Rail was cancelled due to political infighting and mismanagement (which, thankfully, has since been rectified) I got fed up and decided I’d chip away at the issue myself.
There have been people who have criticized your company as exclusively serving the suburbs. How do you respond to that kind of criticism?
Criticize away–we can take it. With 100% of our tours picking up in the city, 50% of them picking up only in the city, and our largest current transit initiative that’s on the way serving solely Southwest Detroit I’d say that criticism is unfounded. Transit in Detroit won’t be solved by just one company; we’re just doing our part.
Also, strong regionality and cooperation between all parties in all neighborhoods and suburbs is crucial to not only usable transit but also the revitalization of Detroit. It’s time we stopped playing sides as we’re all working towards the same goal: a renewed Detroit and an economically-strong Southeastern Michigan with great job opportunities for every individual.
What is your vision for a Detroit with viable mass transit options, and how does your company fit into that vision?
I see the M-1 Light Rail as the turning point for the entire Woodward corridor within fifteen years from Downtown Detroit all the way to Pontiac. The surrounding areas will be connected to the core with a comprehensive Bus Rapid Transit system while a heavy passenger rail carries people quickly and efficiently to Ann Arbor and Chicago. We’re behind the curve as far as local and regional transit goes–but we’ll catch up quickly and learn what to do and what to avoid from other areas around the world.
We’ll exist through connecting people between modes of transit by working to move folks on the ground once people reach Detroit city limits. Also, we’ll keep our tours business strong to show people the right side of Detroit framed in the proper dialogue, with a healthy bit of fun baked in.
What’s next for the Detroit Bus Company?
We’ve got exciting plans in Southwest Detroit that we’ll be rolling out officially very shortly. We’re also developing a Commuter Service that’ll get people down from the farthest reaches both from dense population centers and easy to use Park and Ride lots. Finally, our tours are exploding in numbers starting May 1st. It’s an exciting time at the DBC.