Evaluation

This bus station is a small but well-planned piece of public transport infrastructure. As a case study it demonstrates that resolving seemingly small or unimportant details is actually critical in order to create pedestrian-friendly built environments.

Encouraging the use of public transport can be an effective means of increasing people’s regular, incidental exercise. This is because for most people their journey will involve walking to and from home to stations and bus stops. Increasing the numbers of people who use public transport means making associated facilities and environments safe, attractive and convenient to use and access. When it comes to encouraging bus use in particular, carefully designed bus stops can play an important part in making bus use safer, more convenient and more accessible and thus encourage patronage.

Poorly designed and maintained bus stops have been cited as a factor that makes bus services unattractive to potential passengers in Sydney. Some bus stops have no seating or shelter, are sited very close to busy roads with little ‘buffer space’ between pedestrians and traffic, or have insufficient space for large numbers of people to wait without obstructing passing pedestrians. Others are poorly lit at night or are isolated from other local services and facilities – aspects that compromise the safety of such facilities for many users.

This Parramatta Road bus station is an example of how many of these pitfalls can be avoided, particularly if the planning of public transport services and facilities is considered in conjunction with land use plans and new development projects. It also shows how the tailoring of a bus stop design, both to the site itself, and to the needs of the people who will use it, can be more effective than a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

This bus stop encourages and enables active living by incorporating a number of the design considerations set out in the ‘Public transport’ section of Designing Places for Active Living, namely:

• Locate active land uses such as corner shops near public transport stops (and vice versa), and ensure stops and access routes are clearly visible from surrounding development

The bus stop is located near, and integrated with the adjacent convenience/general store and the food outlet/café on the site’s upper level. The stop is clearly visible from the convenience store and adjacent service station bowser area.

• Integrate public transport facilities into retail and commercial developments to form a viable and convenient mixed-use, after hours precinct.

The bus station is well integrated with the convenience store, with the shelter being attached to the store frontage and adjacent to its entrance. The convenience store and the nearby night window provide activity, lighting and security, and ready access to bus ticket sales and convenience purchases (to the mutual benefit of the owners and store operators).

• Public transport stops should have safe, well lit and comfortable waiting areas with seating and shelter, as well as information on available services

The bus stop has a shelter, conventional bench seating, and additional seating in the form of ‘bar stools’ and tables. This is in keeping with the pedestrian/ customer-friendly atmosphere that was intended, and provides a more pleasant waiting area for bus passengers. The standard street lighting in this area is enhanced by additional lighting provided by the adjacent convenience store/service station. A pole-mounted bus timetable is provided.

• Make public transport an easy option, by planning clearly signed, well-lit and direct routes for people walking and cycling to public transport stops. Be pro-active in creating routes that are safe (in terms of both road and personal safety) and attractive to a range of potential users.

The safe and convenient bus station helps make public transport an easier and more pleasant option because it is tailored to local need, providing an attractive and active focal point for surrounding residents, workers and visitors. The design successfully conveys that the bus station area, even though it is on a busy thoroughfare, is a safe, pedestrian-oriented zone that provides a buffer from traffic. It also manages to convey that the service station convenience store is a general use facility where walk-in patronage is openly welcomed. This increases the potential for local residents to walk to the convenience store, thus increasing incidental exercise.