Bus Stops lacking shelters go begging

[Buzz Killington]

BY VICTOR VIOLANTE
CHIEF ASSEMBLY REPORTER
8/09/2009 6:55:00 AM

The ACT's roll-out of advertising-clad bus shelters should have targeted unsheltered stops, not replacing existing ones, according to a public transport lobby group.

The Canberra Times revealed yesterday that the ACT Government's scheme to outsource construction and maintenance of 241 new ACTION bus shelters to an advertising company was four years behind schedule, and more than 130 shelters that been earmarked for upgrades remained exposed to the elements.

In December 2006, the Government signed a contract with international advertising-funded street furniture company Adshel to deliver the shelters by late 2009 and maintain them for 15 years at no cost to the Government.

In exchange, Adshel would be allowed to have advertisements in 133 of the shelters for up to 18 years, while the remaining 108 would have to be advertisement-free.

Adshel's roll-out to date of 96 has focused on replacing existing concrete shelters along high-transit corridors at the expense of exposed bus stops where Roads ACT's guidelines would not allow advertisement-bearing shelters.

ACT Transit Group spokesman Victor Isaacs said yesterday it was disappointing the contract had not prioritised unsheltered bus stops.

''We don't care if it's financed by the Government or the private sector as long as it comes about, but of course we are disappointed at the slow rate at which the shelters are being introduced,'' Mr Isaacs said.

Source: The Canberra Times

[Irisbus Rider]

Yeah, ideally, shelters would be placed in areas lacking one, but, it must be understood, AdShel is trying to run a business, and will want locations with high traffic flow, regardless of whether or not it already has a shelter.

[route56]

what about the bus stops in belconnen that replaced the interchange with no seats or shelter that was on the television because of the old people.