This is a collection of frequently asked questions about Bus Stops. This is based on questions we have heard over the years. Why is there no bus stop at my house?
Most districts have standards for installing bus stops, these include many things that affect the placement of the stop. These include, but are not limited to, spacing between stops, what the adjacent
property is, the condition of the property next to the stop, is there a sidewalk or pad for the stop, and whether the local government will allow a stop to be installed at that location.
Why is there a bus stop at my house?
This is usually because that location meets the agencies need for a stop. It could also be because this is the only location in the area where a bus stop can
be placed. Sometimes it is there because the local government wants the stop located there for some reason. In some cases the stops were placed before the adjacent property was developed.
How can I get rid of the bus stop next to my house?
There is usually an information number for the agency or company that controls the stop. Try calling it and asking to talk to the people who
control the bus stops. Unless there is a very good reason, the stops usually won't be removed, especially if the stop existed before you moved in next to it. How far apart are bus stops?
Most agencies have a standard for spacing between stops. Most of these depend on the density of the population around the stop. The usual standards seem to be around 1,000 to 1,500 feet for local
routes. In the case of rural areas and express routes this can be greatly increased. In the case of long haul express routes this may by multiple miles. I know of one route where the last
pick up stop is located over 15 miles (24 Km) apart from the first drop off stop. Why is there no schedule information at my stop?
Most transit districts have some sort of standard regarding
where schedule information is placed. This is usually based on ridership and transfer activity at the stop. The standards are usually determined with the total budget for such information taken
into account. Why is there no shelter at my stop?
Due to the cost of maintaining shelters, most agencies have standards for placing shelters, they usually include the ridership at the stop.
Private advertising shelters have other standards, the advertising company usually wants the shelter placed where it can be seen by a lot of people. Even some busy stops cannot have shelters due to
lack of room to physically place the shelter. Some local governments restrict where shelters can be installed for various reasons. Why is there no bench at my stop?
Due to the cost of
maintaining benches, most agencies have standards for placing benches, they usually include the ridership at the stop. Benches are more common than shelters and the standards are usually lower.
Private advertising benches have other standards, the advertising company usually wants the bench placed where it can be seen by a lot of people. Even some busy stops cannot have benches due to lack of
room to physically place the bench. Why is there no garbage can at my stop?
Garbage cans have to be maintained, as a result most agencies restrict where they are installed. In some areas,
the local government maintains the cans and they limit where the cans are installed based on their maintenance schedules. In other areas the adjacent property owner is responsible for maintaining the
trash can, this can severely limit the cans to locations where the property owner is willing to empty the can. Why doesn't route X stop at this stop?
There can be many reasons why a given route
does not stop at a particular stop. Express routes and limited stop routes often by pass stops, if they stopped at ever stop it would slow them down a lot. Sometimes the route has to make a turn
too soon to safely stop, this is most common with left turns. It may be that there is another stop a hundred feet away or so and that the agency has split the routes between two or more stops. |
