Comment by vidarh

Others have largely dealt with your arguments, but to this:

> > And you can not increase the bus interval to compensate for it because it makes off-rush-hour bus commutes impractical.

Most transit systems DO operate different intervals during rush hour. Most places I've lived there's been anywhere from 3-5 different intervals at different times of day: At a minimum a night schedule which might be once an hour or not at all, a rush hour schedule, and 1+ day-time non rush-hour schedule.

I do agree that mini-buses would be an advantage though, once you don't need drivers, and that'd further reduce the advantage of small self-driving cars by allowing for far more routes.