I am flabbergasted at the state of public transport in your vicinity.
Sadly, I think this is pretty typical of the state of public transit across the US. Subway systems tend to be better - maps, when the next train arrives, etc. But the bus systems have little to no info.
That's true in much of Europe also, unfortunately (I don't know about Germany, but I can believe it's better). In France, for example, the rail system is well signposted, but route and timetable information about city buses is very inconsistent. Even true in usually-well-organized Denmark, which has a super-awesome metro, but out of date and difficult to read information at bus stops.
Sadly, I think this is pretty typical of the state of public transit across the US. Subway systems tend to be better - maps, when the next train arrives, etc. But the bus systems have little to no info.