I think Ryan Shell is onto something with his idea about increasing the number of bus shelters and benches. More data needed on the specifics, but the general notion that public transportation should offer a certain quality of experience is a good one. Interesting to see a candidate for City Council floating ideas on the web, rather than just voicing platitudes.

Comments

[Ryan Shell]

Ed,

Thanks for highlighting this issue - I think it is an important part of improving the GTA user experience and increasing ridership.

Ryan

[Steve Harrison]

Great idea, Ryan. There are numerous roadblocks to increasing ridership, and many of them are "convenience"-related. All it takes is one bad experience (getting soaked while waiting for the bus) and you've lost a rider and an advocate.

One way this can be accomplished with less strain on the public budget is to allow/encourage businesses to "sponsor" a bus stop shelter and place their advertising (billboard) and/or brochure on/in the shelter, which I've seen in numerous cities.

[glenwoodobserver]

Ryan - Your job is to convince Robbie Perkins that this and any improvements to the GTA system are better served with that $30 million in transportation bonds than loaning it to NCDOT to buy land for the urban loop.

[Ryan Shell]

Steve,

I'm actually checking into the advertising option with Clear Channel Outdoor. The concept you mentioned is done in a lot of other places...

Ryan

[Fec the Terrible]

You could let Robbie buy the land for the bus shelters, develop them and sell them back to the city at a substantial profit. But bus benches won't get him on the DOT board.

[AA voter]

I believe this is a subject that Bellamy-Small has brought up at City Council a few times.
As they say, its the messenger and not the message.
Interesting, if this subject takes ryan to grab traction in the majority community.

[mc]

could this not be part of the "greening Greensboro" initiative that the City is search for ideas to put forth in a incentives package, especially if solar panels are put on the tops of said bus stops..and they generate electricity for fans or heat (in the winter). And/or made from recycled materials...I occasionally ride bus #8 and it is always within 5 minutes of its scheduled stop that I barely think I am at a bus stop.

I know some interior architect students at UNCG designed a bus stop last semester. It was heavy and cost prohibitive to make but pretty cool looking

[mc]

http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/solar-powered-wi-fi-bus-stops/

oh and what about putting GPS units on the buses and have some sort of display in the bus stop so that folks can "see" where the bus is on its route (an indication as to when it might come). I have heard folks complain that the bus is late, only to find that they really don't know the schedule.

[Wesley Mouch]

And wet bars and pedicurists.

[Jon Firebaugh]

C'mon Wes that's not as cool as Wii Dance Dance Revolution or Wii Fit. You could exercise while on the bus. Seriously, I like the idea of more shelters. Does the GTA have any way of tracking which stops have the most on/off action? These should have priority.

[The Committee to Elect George Hartzman, District 3]

If public transportation customers had somewhere to sit and wait, more residents may utilize the system. The problem is funding. The City of Greensboro and Guilford County have increased total outstanding debt by more than 900%, from $135,696,206 in 2000, to more than $1,300,000,000 in 2009. So what do we cut from where to fund what appears to be a very good idea?