Study: One-Quarter of L.A. County Bus Stops Equipped With Shelters

Bus riders in Los Angeles frequently lack protection from sun and extreme heat, with bus stops in some of the county’s hottest areas having the worst amenities.

2 minute read

February 27, 2023, 11:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Bus stop in downtown Los Angeles with billboard and no bench or shelter

Walter Cicchetti / Downtown Los Angeles bus stop

If you’ve taken a bus in Los Angeles, chances are you’ve noticed a few desolate bus stops that lack shelters, seating, or nearby trees to offer protection from extreme heat, rain, or wind. Dan Zukowski describes the situation in Smart Cities Dive, referencing a new study from the University of California, Los Angeles, Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies that reveals that only 26 percent of Los Angeles County bus stops have shelters.

The problem isn’t unique to the City of Angels: “According to data compiled by the Washington Post last year, less than 20% of more than 122,000 bus stops in use by 16 large U.S. transit agencies have bus shelters.”

As Zukowski explains, “Typically, local jurisdictions, not transit agencies, are responsible for installing and maintaining bus shelters, according to the report. That means that some cities will have substantially higher numbers of shelters while others will have relatively few.” The Lewis Center study noted that in Los Angeles County, “neighborhoods with high Latino populations average temperatures that are four degrees warmer than those with low Latino populations and that ‘extreme heat days are warmer in neighborhoods with more Black residents than those with fewer Black residents.’”

As extreme heat becomes more common, the study’s authors write, “government partners will need to prioritize where new shelters are installed and consider how to maximize their benefits.”

Thursday, February 23, 2023 in Smart Cities Dive

View form second story inside Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota with escalators and model cars parked on downstairs floor.

The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

March 21, 2024 - Governing

View of Austin, Texas skyline with river in foreground during morning golden hour.

The Paradox of American Housing

How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.

March 26, 2024 - The Atlantic

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

Aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska downtown with mountains in background at golden hour.

Anchorage Leaders Debate Zoning Reform Plan

Last year, the city produced the fewest new housing units in a decade.

March 28 - Anchorage Daily News

Young man in wheelchair crossing zebra crosswalk.

How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities

Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.

March 28 - Governing

Aerial view of mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the winter with snow at dusk.

Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing

Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.

March 28 - CBS News

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.