Story here: Shabby, neglected bus stops will never help get more people on to public transport. Talks about the investment that is being seen in railway stations (presumably NSIP and NSIP+, but it doesn't say so) and complains about the standard of bus stops.
Personally, I think alot of railway stations (almost all the unstaffed ones) are just as bad, if not worse. Even some of the 'improvement' projects are actually a step backwards: eg. Shrewsbury where the waiting room on the plans was smaller than the existing one!
Really though, I think what is really needed to entice more people onto public transport, in terms of train stations and bus stops, is to ensure stops are fit-for-purpose. If you know the timetable you should in most cases be able to just turn up 3-5 minutes before your service is due and then all that is needed is a shelter from the rain. However, at interchange points (particularly between bus and rail) a much higher level of facilities is needed since you may be waiting 20 minutes or so for onward travel. At a minimum, I think full shelter from the wind, as well as rain, is then required. That means a fully-enclosed structure with closeable doors, walls that extend right to the floor etc. (heating might not be essential though). Ideally should have public toilets nearby too.
What does anyone else think?
Shabby or minimalist bus stops are undermining official attempts to entice more people onto public transport, say transport managers
Personally, I think alot of railway stations (almost all the unstaffed ones) are just as bad, if not worse. Even some of the 'improvement' projects are actually a step backwards: eg. Shrewsbury where the waiting room on the plans was smaller than the existing one!
Really though, I think what is really needed to entice more people onto public transport, in terms of train stations and bus stops, is to ensure stops are fit-for-purpose. If you know the timetable you should in most cases be able to just turn up 3-5 minutes before your service is due and then all that is needed is a shelter from the rain. However, at interchange points (particularly between bus and rail) a much higher level of facilities is needed since you may be waiting 20 minutes or so for onward travel. At a minimum, I think full shelter from the wind, as well as rain, is then required. That means a fully-enclosed structure with closeable doors, walls that extend right to the floor etc. (heating might not be essential though). Ideally should have public toilets nearby too.
What does anyone else think?