Want to see the future of city buses? Here's one take on that future from the Web site of the the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, which operates the Las Vegas transit system. The vehicles, called MAX, are examples of a new fusion of buses and trains that are sleek, futuristic and totally cool.

The concept is called bus rapid transit. Here's a Web site that explains it. It's not about the old yellow dog school buses some of us remember -- and some children in Fresno and the Valley still ride today. Nor is it the wheezing old diesel version of the city bus we've all come to -- ahem -- love.

Check out the videos of the bus in action on the Las Vegas Web site. Then imagine these puppies whipping around the Fresno-Clovis metro area some day. Ah, sweet dreams...