Waiting for the bus can be a pain. To make transit more appealing, nothing beats frequent service, but studies have shown that if you're going to wait, small improvements like shelters and information about when the next bus is coming can make the wait feel shorter.
WalkDenver raised money to post wayfinding signs pointing the way to destinations within walking distance. Photo: ioby
That was a big impetus behind "Trick Out My Trip," an initiative that helped transit riders in cities across America implement creative ideas to make the rider experience better. The project was sponsored by TransitCenter and ioby (in our backyards), a crowdsourcing platform for community improvements.
"Sound Reader Free Libraries" will provide Seattle-area transit riders with something to read while they ride. Photo: ioby
Seattle resident Kristina Krause led a group that raised almost $5,000, not including matching funds, to purchase books for "free libraries" to be housed at transit stations around the city.
These libraries will be free to all riders, offering books they can take with them on their journey, or read while they are waiting at their stop. The libraries will broaden the horizons of all passengers and entertain the lonely traveler.
Atlanta: "Timely Trip"
Atlanta residents took it upon themselves to see that route information was available at MARTA stops. They called their project TimelyTrip. Image: ioby
Binh Dam, who moved to Atlanta from Paris, was troubled by the fact that many of the city's bus stops are simply a sign that says MARTA. There's not even information about schedules. So the idea here was simply to provide printed route and schedule information at stops. The group also created an app so riders with smartphones can get the real-time arrival information by scanning a code.
The group raised $534 for the project.
In response, report ioby and Transit Center, "[MARTA's] top leadership decided to invest in replicating the project across the city."
By the end of this year, 15 bus stops around downtown and midtown will display printed information and scan codes.
Angie is a Cleveland-based writer with a background in planning and newspaper reporting. She has been writing about cities for Streetsblog for six years.
"I really would think that our mayor would be a little bit more active and speak with us, because he hasn't really made any time with riders. We're not the enemy. We just want better bus service."
Justin Sherwood and his lawyer will pocket $152,000 to settle his federal civil rights suit against the city and several officers who harassed him following his 311 calls.