Better bus stops for climate, context, and community

Overview

Bus stops are crucial touch points for a public transport system, and have the potential to impact human health and wellbeing, as well as rider experience. As a ubiquitous aspect of the urban fabric within a city, bus stops impact the character and function of the streetscape and their design can impact people’s experiences within the public realm. Yet their role in shaping everyday places is usually neglected and is under researched. In addition, with increased temperatures and extreme weather events, providing shade and protection at bus stops is critical, especially considering populations who don't have other transport options during bad weather. This research will investigate different aspects of existing bus stops, including street trees and shelters, to determine how we can design them better to more effectively address climate, context, and community.

Research activities

Multiple methods should be used, including data collection on thermal comfort, UVR exposure, contributions to placemaking and streetscape design, and user experience, perceptions, and satisfaction. Individual researchers can choose different aspects to study as appropriate to skills and interest. This project has established partnerships with Queensland Health, Brisbane City Council, and others.

Outcomes

The aim of the project is to determine how we can design better bus stops for climate, context, and community.  A expected outcome is the creation of design and policy recommendations.

Keywords

• bus stops
• shade
• public realm
• public transport
• streetscape

Contact

Contact the supervisor for more information.