Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
College Park, Maryland's "Bus Stop of the Future." Image: Beyond DC/Flickr
College Park's "bus stop of the future." Image: Beyond DC/Flickr
false

Four years ago, the regional transit agency in Paris, RATP, set out to create the "bus stop of the future." This bus stop would be designed to give riders and even passersby a comfortable place to relax. In addition to a sleek shelter, it featured a bike-share station, a library, and snacks and coffee.

Inspired by that example, College Park, Maryland, recently created its own version of the "bus stop of the future." Dan Malouff at Greater Greater Washington says it includes many of the elements of the Parisian bus stop, but at a price that's a lot more reasonable:

They started with a normal bus stop sign and shelter, then added a standard mBike bikeshare station. To help with maintenance, the city chained a bike tire pump to the station sign.

For the library, they staked to the ground a Little Free Library, a pre-fab wood box for people to take and give away free books. There's no librarian and no library cards; it runs on the honor system, and relies on people donating as many books as they take.

It's no grand Parisian bus station, but that would be overkill. For a bus stop in a relatively low-density suburban area, it's pretty darn nice.

Elsewhere on the Network today: Streets.mn explains why downtown isn't the place to worry about parking. Mobilizing the Region shares a video about the potential for transit "armageddon" if New York and New Jersey don't build a new rail connection under the Hudson River. And Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space reviews the expansion of Boston's Hubway bike-share into the low-income Roxbury neighborhood.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Covina to Begin Construction on Recreation Village

The new facility will be next to the Metrolink station and include a variety of opportunities for fitness and amusement

July 26, 2024

Talking Headways Podcast: Have Cities Run Out of Land?

Chris Redfearn of USC and Anthony Orlando of Cal Poly Pomona on why "pro-business" Texas housing markets are catching up to "pro-regulation" California and what it might mean for future city growth.

July 26, 2024

Friday’s Headlines

Oakland identifies sites for speed camera pilot; E-bike tariffs conflict with US climate policy; Pollution spikes around warehouses, shipping hubs; More

July 26, 2024

What the Heck is Going on with the State E-bike Incentive Program?

The program's launch has been delayed for two years, and currently "there is no specific timeline" for it. Plus the administrator, Pedal Ahead, is getting dragged, but details are vague

July 26, 2024

The Paris Plan for Olympic Traffic? Build More Bike Lanes

A push to make Paris fully bikable for the Olympics is already paying dividends long before the opening ceremonies.

July 25, 2024
See all posts