How to Build a Better Bus Stop

The state of a city's bus stops is a good indicator of its commitment to public transit option as a mobility option for all its residents.

1 minute read

October 16, 2018, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Bus Stop

Frederick Dennstedt / Flickr

TransitCenter's new "From Sorry to Superb" report details the ways transit agencies can improve that critical element of bus service: the bus stop.

"From Sorry to Superb" details how transit agencies and cities build great bus stops by showcasing ways in which transit agencies can work with city staff. Case studies, informed by policy documents and interviews with experts, explore how five regions — Minneapolis St-Paul, Portland, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, and New York City — manage their bus stops.

According to the report, declining bus and transit ridership require immediate attention to the condition of bus stops. Research suggests that better stops and walks to stops can encourage ridership and improve the transit experience.

As for what makes a bus stop a success, when done right, the report lists "amenities such as benches, shelters, and trash cans; information on schedules, service, wayfinding; and sidewalks and lighting nearby."

The report then recommends action items for cities and transit agencies, organized into a five-step list.

Thursday, October 11, 2018 in TransitCenter

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view image of strip mall in suburban Duncanville, Texas.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall

A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

2 hours ago - Parking Reform Network

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work

Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

4 hours ago - Next City

Aerial tram moving along cable in hilly area in Medellin, Colombia.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle

Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

6 hours ago - InTransition Magazine