Take a look at public transit stops in your town or city. What elements are there that help improve the commuter experience? Which elements are absent
INFO BOARD: Is there an info board or time table for commuters to check? Not everyone relies on their phones and apps for timetables and it’s great to have in general.
SHELTERED SEATING AREAS: Having seating is great annd sheltered seating is even better to protect from various aspects of weather (how shelter might look can also differ depending on local climate).
TRASH BINS: Can save the city time and resources by having to clean up litter if a trash bin is simply present for commuters.
The photo below that I photographed yesterday in the Polish city we currently live in shows a bus stop with all of the above, as well as a ticket machine. Most, if not all, stops in the city have info boards, shelter and trash bins. In the suburbs, such ‘complete’ stops become rarer.
When it comes to bus stops, I think it’s rare that any one city gets it ‘just right’ across all stations. I remember once, while commuting with a bus in a Swedish city (that had a lot of really well-planned bus stations in the city) that on a suburban route I had to board at a stop that had no shelter and no trash bins. Unfortunately, the stop had a lot of trash & litter. I wrote to the local public transit authority about the problem, and within a few days, there was a trash bin at the station.
What are you observing of public transit stops around your community? Do you have a favourite one? Do you observe some that need some TLC and more of the above features?