Maybe these will get the T-transit bus's filled up, or at least make things more interesting here.
Bus Stops (http://www.stumbleupon.com/toolbar/#topic=Architecture&url=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.toxel.com%252Finspiration%252F2009%252F05%252F01%252F15-unusual-and-creative-bus-stops%252F)
Cool! I definitely think that the sheltered stops are generally much more inviting than a mere signpost.
Although not the most practical, I really like this design.
(http://www.toxel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/busstop01.jpg)
I'll admit, I like the lazy one
too bad it would be taken up by a homeless person if it was downtown
(http://www.toxel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/busstop08.jpg)
Could you imagine the uproar if we were to actually implement something like this? The constant nay-sayers would rear their ugly heads to complain about everything else the money could have gone towards. Of course, had the money gone towards those things... they still complain. :P
I was waiting on the bus this morning (man you think about things differantly when your vehicle breaks down and you have to ride the bus for a few weeks) and was contemplating what it would take to build a bus stop there that would be eye catching. Then I wondered how much trouble I would get in over it.
Quote from: custosnox on May 05, 2009, 10:38:56 AM
I was waiting on the bus this morning (man you think about things differantly when your vehicle breaks down and you have to ride the bus for a few weeks) and was contemplating what it would take to build a bus stop there that would be eye catching. Then I wondered how much trouble I would get in over it.
A really cool program for Tulsa Transit might be some kind of "adopt a stop" idea where a neighborhood or group of local businesses can sign up to pay for an enhanced shelter design. Like, a bunch of Cherry Street merchants could have go with a cherry motif, or the Pearl could do the same, or whatever. It could work like the penguins did for the Tulsa Zoo.
Only worry for me would be that the people and parts of town who are most dependent on transit would be the least able to afford to spruce up their own stops. Perhaps some sort of matching program would be needed, where a sponsor's donation also goes toward building a basic, standardized (but still hopefully attractive) shelter in other parts of town.
adopt-a-stop sounds like something that would be interesting, as long as there were some guidlines. For example, I don't think it would be very appealing for people to be sitting at what would surmount to an advertisment for a company, or something that is just obsurd. So perhaps an on approval type system, and a limit on how much of a corperate logo or name can be put on there. Perhaps limit it to a plaque to indicate who has adopted it like the adopt a highway.
Ooooh, now your talking. I have seen some really neat bus stop designs around the country. Even ran across some that were very inexpensive/eco friendly ones that looked quite nice. I would love to help design and donate to a bus stop. You know I am always dreaming up big ideas and such, but at this scale its something a small group of people could get together and do themselves. It would be a nice way to help make our transit system more user friendly, and could be a way to add some interesting pieces of art all over the city.
Quote from: TheArtist on May 05, 2009, 02:36:09 PM
Ooooh, now your talking. I have seen some really neat bus stop designs around the country. Even ran across some that were very inexpensive/eco friendly ones that looked quite nice. I would love to help design and donate to a bus stop. You know I am always dreaming up big ideas and such, but at this scale its something a small group of people could get together and do themselves. It would be a nice way to help make our transit system more user friendly, and could be a way to add some interesting pieces of art all over the city.
Did I just hear you volunteer to organize this with TT and other groups? *chuckles evily as he passes the buck and runs like hell*
They all look great, but "T" Town is on a tight budget. Those designs are expensive. Maybe when the economy turns around and the economy starts growing and more money starts flowing into the city that stuff can be put on Tulsa's wish list.. :o
Quote from: sauerkraut on May 05, 2009, 02:56:52 PM
They all look great, but "T" Town is on a tight budget. Those designs are expensive. Maybe when the economy turns around and the economy starts expanding and more people ride the bus and more tax money starts flowing in to the city.
I had originally posted this as a "wouldn't it be nice if.." or a "wouldn't it be cool if..." type thing, however, Floyds suggestion of an adopt-a-stop setup would work out great for those of us actually residing in Tulsa.
Quote from: sauerkraut on May 05, 2009, 02:56:52 PM
They all look great, but "T" Town is on a tight budget. Those designs are expensive. Maybe when the economy turns around and the economy starts growing and more money starts flowing into the city that stuff can be put on Tulsa's wish list.. :o
Dude. Try reading the thread. We're talking about corporate sponsorships of whimsical pop art bus stops--like if the Cherry Street merchants all pitched in for a giant cherry-shaped shelter along 15th, or Sears did something cool at 21st and Yale.
I swear to god you just cut and paste the same thoughts over and over again on this forum. It wouldn't be as bad but they're usually totally irrelevant. I literally thought you were a bot for a long time--you know, not a real person, just a repetitive computer program. Get some more original thoughts and everyone will stop reacting so badly to what you post.
I think that is a great idea. It might not get ridership up, but at least it would be fun to see.
(http://images.quickblogcast.com/82086-71861/watermelon.jpg)
(http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2007/11/BusStopNTI_450x300.jpg)
Quote from: TeeDub on May 05, 2009, 03:55:16 PM
I think that is a great idea. It might not get ridership up, but at least it would be fun to see.
(http://images.quickblogcast.com/82086-71861/watermelon.jpg)
(http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2007/11/BusStopNTI_450x300.jpg)
They would be nice. Maybe a little too nice and too enclosed. There were some really nice nearly enclosed trolley stops along the line near where I lived near Philly. They usually smelled like an outhouse and no one (waiting for the trolley) would go in. A roof and wind break with no privacy is probably the best compromise. We lived in a mixed blue/white collar neighborhood so it wasn't a matter of being in a disadvantaged area.
Quote from: Red Arrow on May 05, 2009, 07:33:03 PM
They would be nice. Maybe a little too nice and too enclosed. There were some really nice nearly enclosed trolley stops along the line near where I lived near Philly. They usually smelled like an outhouse and no one (waiting for the trolley) would go in. A roof and wind break with no privacy is probably the best compromise. We lived in a mixed blue/white collar neighborhood so it wasn't a matter of being in a disadvantaged area.
That is a good point. But if there was to be an adopt-a-stop, it would be expected that whoever adopted it would keep it clean (but expected and actually happening tend to be two differant things). However, if something like this was to come about, perhaps the approval process should take this into mind as well.
Here are some different variations.
Contemporary
(http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6527/acontemporary.jpg)
Fun and Funky
(http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/7307/afunandfunky.jpg)
Old timey
(http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/4475/aoldtimey.jpg)
some excellent examples. And most without the privacy to turn them into a privy. I need to stop looking at these, I'm about to go buy some wood and start building, and I can't afford any wood lol
are the "fun and funky" ones showing up on anyone elses computer? They arent on mine lol
Quote from: TheArtist on May 05, 2009, 09:55:19 PM
are the "fun and funky" ones showing up on anyone elses computer? They arent on mine lol
Not mine. It took a while for the rest to load, figured it was because of that that I wasn't seeing it.
Why do all these designs protect the landscape, not the patrons, from the traffic noise and spray? Do the people who run transit actually take their own buses? Turn the shelters 180 degrees. Problem SOLVED.
Quote from: ILUVTulsa on May 06, 2009, 11:52:35 AM
Why do all these designs protect the landscape, not the patrons, from the traffic noise and spray? Do the people who run transit actually take their own buses? Turn the shelters 180 degrees. Problem SOLVED.
Turn it 180 degrees and then those waiting can't see when the bus has arrived. Same with a 90 degree angle facing away from on-coming traffic, unless the bus pulls up beyond the shelter (which may be a good, workable solution). If the opening faces towards on-coming traffic, then headlights would be in the patrons' eyes. Regardless of the orientation, there will be something to complain about.
I like the ideas, but I can't understand why we'd spend one penny on bus shelters when we have such an inadequate bus system. Shouldn't we be working on a bus system that people who have cars might want to take? Something that runs on evenings on weekends, some routes where there's not 1:45 between buses.
Quote from: TheTed on May 06, 2009, 02:39:10 PM
I like the ideas, but I can't understand why we'd spend one penny on bus shelters when we have such an inadequate bus system. Shouldn't we be working on a bus system that people who have cars might want to take? Something that runs on evenings on weekends, some routes where there's not 1:45 between buses.
Once again, the idea's being tossed around would be soemthing taken on by individuals or groups, not being paid for by taxes or from MTTA.
Regardless, I do agree that the bus system isn't up to par. I used to take the bus around town when I was a teen, and not much has changed since then. I didn't like taking it then, and I don't like taking it now.
Quote from: TURobY on May 06, 2009, 01:36:27 PM
Turn it 180 degrees and then those waiting can't see when the bus has arrived. Same with a 90 degree angle facing away from on-coming traffic, unless the bus pulls up beyond the shelter (which may be a good, workable solution). If the opening faces towards on-coming traffic, then headlights would be in the patrons' eyes. Regardless of the orientation, there will be something to complain about.
King County Transit, Seattle, WA, bus shelters protect patrons, not the landscape, from traffic noise and spray. That's the problem with public transit. They don't listen to their customers.
Go take a look at T-Transit parking lot. It's full of personal-owned vehicles. If bus drivers won't even take their own buses to work, something is majorly WRONG. I bet Bill Cartwright drives a Lexus.
I kinda like the idea of recycling our old buses into bus stops. Just cut them into segments and use the old seats and everything. Should be able to get 3 or 4 stops out of each old bus.
Very cool.
Quote from: ILUVTulsa on May 07, 2009, 10:22:06 AM
King County Transit, Seattle, WA, bus shelters protect patrons, not the landscape, from traffic noise and spray. That's the problem with public transit. They don't listen to their customers.
Do you have any links to photo's of these shelters? I would like to see how they designed them.
Quote
Go take a look at T-Transit parking lot. It's full of personal-owned vehicles. If bus drivers won't even take their own buses to work, something is majorly WRONG. I bet Bill Cartwright drives a Lexus.
As I said, the system is below par, and I understand why they drive their own vehicles. I think they should be forced to ride the buses so that they might have an idea of what others go through so they know what direction to go with the buses.
Some of those remind me of the jelly bean in Chicago's Millinium Park. We need more art like that here.
Quote from: custosnox on May 07, 2009, 10:41:18 AM
Do you have any links to photo's of these shelters? I would like to see how they designed them.
As I said, the system is below par, and I understand why they drive their own vehicles. I think they should be forced to ride the buses so that they might have an idea of what others go through so they know what direction to go with the buses.
How much rocket science do you need to rotate bus shelters 180 degrees?
Quote from: ILUVTulsa on May 08, 2009, 11:29:35 AM
How much rocket science do you need to rotate bus shelters 180 degrees?
I too would like to see how they work. I've already responded to the drawback of them. How do those waiting for the bus know it has arrived if their back is turned towards it?
I'm not saying that it isn't a good idea, I'm genuinely curious about how they work. And your lucky that, given your attitude, I even care.
Quote from: TURobY on May 08, 2009, 11:51:16 AM
I too would like to see how they work. I've already responded to the drawback of them. How do those waiting for the bus know it has arrived if their back is turned towards it?
I'm not saying that it isn't a good idea, I'm genuinely curious about how they work. And your lucky that, given your attitude, I even care.
The front of the shelter is the former back of the shelter. Just turn this 180 degrees.
(http://www.ubergizmo.com/photos/2007/8/landmark-bus-shelter.jpg)
Quote from: ILUVTulsa on May 08, 2009, 06:06:49 PM
The front of the shelter is the former back of the shelter. Just turn this 180 degrees.
(http://www.ubergizmo.com/photos/2007/8/landmark-bus-shelter.jpg)
In general, the shelters are not competely transparant, as the transit system wants to make some extra money to offset costs by placing adds on the shelters. It was stated before that Seatle has shelters that protect the patron from the street. I would like to see exactly how this is set up.
Also, if you just turn this shelter around, then your going to have to walk around the shelter to get on the bus, which around here could easily mean missing the bus.
I saw some shelters that had a waist high "splash guard" close to the curb, then the sidewalk, then the bus shelter. There were also some that had the opaque waist high wall, then above that a glass wall which arched over the sidewalk and then connected to the bus shelter. Those bus shelters also seemed to have a sidewalk behind them as well.
Many of the BRT Bus Rapid Transit systems had the elevated, enclosed, shelters like the tube one shown on the first page. They act much like rail shelters in that a single or double bus can pull right up close and people file directly into and out of the bus doors. These can act as an interim or midway system when your building up to rail, but dont quite need it yet or are unable to put it in an area for some reason. Still building up density, connections, etc. But the BRT stations can show a level of commitment and direction for certain areas which the city can use to start encouraging TOD.
Install interesting bus shelters like the ones posted along certain 'high frequency' routes and I would almost guarantee ridership would increase. A big problem with getting people to ride buses is that they are worried the bus won't follow its schedule. Shelters, as opposed to just a sign, are permanent indicators that a bus stops there and will be stopping there for the foreseeable future which allows people to trust that the bus will be there when they need it. Good routes for permanent, interesting shelters would be along the 105 (Peoria), 111 (11th St.), 215 (15th St.), 221 (21st St./31st St.), 112 (Lewis), and the 471 (71st St.).
Quote from: SXSW on May 11, 2009, 10:42:04 AM
Install interesting bus shelters like the ones posted along certain 'high frequency' routes and I would almost guarantee ridership would increase. A big problem with getting people to ride buses is that they are worried the bus won't follow its schedule. Shelters, as opposed to just a sign, are permanent indicators that a bus stops there and will be stopping there for the foreseeable future which allows people to trust that the bus will be there when they need it. Good routes for permanent, interesting shelters would be along the 105 (Peoria), 111 (11th St.), 215 (15th St.), 221 (21st St./31st St.), 112 (Lewis), and the 471 (71st St.).
The schedules seem to be followed pretty well (except the guy that drives on fridays that likes to come early, like before I can get out my front door), so if the beginning relationship with rider/transit system can be ignited, then that would be in place.
I do think that one of the problems with the bus system is the poor condition that they are actually in. I should have taken pictures of this mornings bus. The seats were coming apart, and stained, and the interior paint was peeling. It's like they have no pride.
Quote from: SXSW on May 11, 2009, 10:42:04 AM
Install interesting bus shelters like the ones posted along certain 'high frequency' routes and I would almost guarantee ridership would increase. A big problem with getting people to ride buses is that they are worried the bus won't follow its schedule. Shelters, as opposed to just a sign, are permanent indicators that a bus stops there and will be stopping there for the foreseeable future which allows people to trust that the bus will be there when they need it. Good routes for permanent, interesting shelters would be along the 105 (Peoria), 111 (11th St.), 215 (15th St.), 221 (21st St./31st St.), 112 (Lewis), and the 471 (71st St.).
Agreed. DESIGNATION, SAFETY and VISABILTY are the keys to helping increasing ridership.