The Importance of Bus Shelters in Modern Urban Transport

The importance of public transport infrastructure in cities plays an important role in urban development and improving the quality of life of citizens. No one is a fan of traffic congestion, but by providing an accessible and efficient transport network and placing bus shelters at every bus stop, congestion can be significantly reduced, thus encouraging the residents of a city to choose public transport. It should also be mentioned that public transport contributes to the creation of both the local economy and individual well-being because the carbon footprint is reduced.

What Are Bus Shelters and Why Are They Essential for Bus Passengers?

A bus stop canopy is a structure placed at bus stops, created mainly to provide protection to passengers against unfavourable weather conditions such as wind, rain or very strong sun. This structure is usually side-walled, roofed and partially enclosed, provided with benches to ensure the comfort of those waiting for the bus. Some people cannot see the difference between bus stops and bus shelters because they sound similar, but the bus stops represent all the places a bus picks people up or drops them off, whereas the covered waiting areas, as previously mentioned, are places specially designed to ensure comfort.

In addition to the main role of protection, these shelters also have an informative role because information about bus routes and timetables can be found on their walls. That’s not the only information it can give you, as they may also have spaces for advertising, such as the next concert in town, an interesting museum, or even a shopping discount. It may also include additional elements such as lighting and modern technologies like Wi-Fi connectivity or a socket for charging the phone.

A bus shelter helps to manage and reduce crowding in bus stations by efficiently organising the waiting area. It has a well-defined structure where people can wait for the bus, without blocking the surrounding pedestrian traffic. Considering the informative role specified earlier, digital displays provide real-time information about the arrival of buses at the station, reducing the crowding caused by uncertainty.

Essential Characteristics of an Effective Bus Shelter

When it comes to the essential characteristics of bus shelters, four important points can be identified:

Durable materials that ensure resistance to the weather, even to vandalism. This characteristic is the most important of the four that will be listed because safety must come first when considering the operation of a bus shelter.

Furthermore, there are two criteria that complement each other and are intended for passenger comfort, namely the functional elements and their ergonomic design. The functional elements include the benches, the roof, the transparent walls for safety, while the ergonomic design refers to the comfort offered by them, such as accessibility for people with disabilities, as well as sufficient space for sitting.

And last but not least, lighting and visibility are characteristics that are part of the group of essential ones because they provide comfort and safety, especially at night.

The Benefits of a Well-Designed Bus Stop Shelter

According to the Project for Public Spaces „A bus shelter should be designed to reflect the city in which it is located. This can be accomplished through the use of local materials and by the design details. Often standard shelters can be adapted to reflect the unique characteristics of the area in which they are located.”

Considering the previous listing of the essential characteristics of a bus shelter, below are the benefits of creating a design based on these characteristics:

The primary role of safety is provided both by the stable structure of the shelter against unfavourable weather conditions, but also by the good visibility that discourages illegal activities, and the lighting contributes to a better perception of safety.

Another benefit offered by a well-thought-out design is the comfort and satisfaction of passengers. When a design is attractive and comfortable, the user experience is improved.

And finally, a benefit is also the appearance of urban aesthetics offered by these shelters because they contribute to the general appearance of the city.

Innovative Bus Shelters Designs from Around the World

The first designs of sheltered bus stop were as simple as possible with a roof, a few chairs, or a bench and three transparent walls (at the back and on the sides), but with the urban evolution, they began to be improved and today we have optimised designs to increase the safety and comfort of passengers, and also the aesthetic appearance of the city.

As mentioned, the first designs were the classic ones, from where all the other models started, with a roof for protection, transparent walls for visibility, equipped with benches and bus timetable displays.

Technology has advanced, and so have bus waiting shelters, thus appearing the shelters with solar panels on the roof that power the lighting and the electronic displays, which allows a real-time counting of the bus schedule, while the classic ones offer only a standard schedule, which does not take into account congestion or bus delays, therefore offering only an approximate hour.

Paying attention to ecology, bus shelters with green roofs were invented. They have a roof covered with vegetation to contribute to reducing temperatures in urban areas and air quality in urban areas, this design is friendly to the environment, but also to aesthetics.

Sheltered bus stops with customisable elements are those that allow the addition of some elements depending on the available space, such as bike racks, recycling areas, and advertising spaces.

A fairly new and very interesting design is the anti-terrorist bus shelter which has been designed to fully meet Aviation Security in Airport Development (ASIAD) standards, ensuring protection for passengers from terrorist bomb attacks.

Conclusion

Bus shelters have become quite important elements in the public transport infrastructure, which through their characteristics bring numerous benefits both for urban communities and for passengers. They provide a comfortable place to wait for the bus, offer protection against adverse weather conditions, and last but not least, offer a safer and more pleasant experience. Also, a good design contributes to the efficient management of the flow of passengers and helps to reduce crowding at bus stations.

Also, sheltered bus stops are a necessary investment for a developing city because they contribute significantly to its appearance, help guide passengers between destinations more easily and at the same time, with an attractive appearance, encourage the use of public transport. Therefore, investing in modern bus stop shelters is an important step for cities that want an efficient public transport infrastructure, adapted to the needs of passengers.