Vancouver is struggling with new bus lanes because of interference from cars. It's a good lesson for Seattle, which is about to implement bus rapid transit along five corridors.
The congestion means that bus lanes haven't cut travel times. But the city's report notes an improvement: "bus lanes can raise the profile of transit on a corridor and can be a symbol of transit priority."
The question remains why we can't mimic the successful Rapid Ride program in Los Angeles. If you simplify the system and provide frequent service, people will ride.