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There are several elements to a good bus stop. Here is a list of some of those elements:
- Accessibility:
The stop must be accessible to the passengers, whether they are disabled or not. If you can't get to the stop, or can't board the bus from the stop it might as well not
exist.
- Passenger Facilities:
The stop should have the appropriate facilities for the passengers. These include such things as Benches, Information Signs, Shelters, and Trash
Receptacles. Not every stop has to have these, but they do help.
- Visibility:
Stops should be visible to the driver of the bus. If it is not, the passengers are likely to be bypassed. This also includes not only the sign being visible, but the
passenger being visible. At night, this can include the need for lighting. Passengers get passed by occasionally due to not being visible to the driver.
- Convenience:
The stop should be placed in a location that makes it convenient for the passengers origin or destination. Having to walk too far to get either to or from the stop
discourages the passengers.
- Spacing:
The distance between stops also helps or hurts stops. Placing stops too far apart makes them inconvenient to use. Placing them too close together can make the drivers
and passengers irritated by having the bus stop too often.
- Safety:
Stops have to be safe for both the passenger and the bus that has to stop there.
There are several elements that go into making a stop accessible for all passengers.
- Width of sidewalk:
The sidewalk must be wide enough for the passengers using wheelchairs to be
able to get onto the lift or ramp to board the bus. There also needs to be enough room for people to easily move around the stop. ADA requires a 5 foot by 8 foot area.
- Length of Sidewalk:
Since many buses have lifts located in the rear door, the area of the stop should be long enough for the bus to deploy a lift from either the front or rear door.
- Lack of Obstructions:
The stop should not have a lot of obstructions that get in the way. More
than once I have had to dodge a pole when getting off the bus because there isn't enough room for the bus to clear all of them.
- Access to Stop:
The passengers must be able to get to the stop.
- Level Sidewalk:
To best deploy a lift or ramp, the stops should be level.
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YARTS has accommodated ADA by building a 5x8 pad on the side of the road. (They eventually placed a shelter here). |
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