Top on my wish list is bus stop signs like this one in Hamburg, Germany: http://www.flickr.com/photos/myglesias/3951658740/sizes/l/in/set-72157622285265087/

Being able to see when the next bus will arrive makes a huge difference in helping people to be more comfortable with mass transit. It’s the next best thing to light rail.

There are some American companies that make these as well: http://www.metro-magazine.com/Article/Story/2009/09/Digital-Signage-Delivers-On-the-Spot-Information.aspx

Steve, “or else accept what’s coming your way” — what is coming our way?

Steve -

Please pass along this reference – NYC Street Manual which is available free for download. I purchased a hard copy on the recommendation of Jeff Speck, and find it to be true to his words. It offers worthwhile suggestions on lights, street furniture, and bus shelters – along with host of other street design best practices.

Oklahoma City should not attempt to re-invent the wheel when it comes to good urbanity, whether we are talking: design guidelines, sidewalk surfaces, or street furniture & lighting. We should learn from cities that have dealt with urban/pedestrian issues for a long time. We can save our bold efforts at originality for a day when we have the basics figured out.

And in case you think we have the basics figured out, I offer this humble reminder.

Steve,

Why do we have to have lighting that “we’ve seen in other cities??” What’s wrong with having lighting that’s unique to OKC? That’s part of the reason creativity is stifled… people only think in terms of what they’ve already seen, rather than what is right for a specific design. (Hold the press. I’ll be forwarding some lighting suggestions to you ASAP.)

I think a bus stop needs to shelter a few people from the elements while they wait for the bus. Currently, OKC’s bus stops, since they’re just wooden benches, don’t do this. So when it rains here (which is often), no one rides the bus or the people who do ride the bus get drenched.

So check out what’s going on in Boston and Cambridge: open-faced glass boxes! Here’s a pic of a bus stop just outside Harvard Square:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g60890-d114148-Irving_House_at_Harvard-Cambridge_Massachusetts.html.

And check out the new bus station in Kenmore Square, just outside Fenway Park:

http://kenmoresquareboston.com/

So I think we need something that is edgy from a design standpoint but that is also functional. Because a big part of boosting the ridership of our bus system comes from elegant but practical bus stops. If people feel they can ride on a bus without getting soaked, more people will ride the bus!

Ah, crud. The glass box bus stop is the 5 picture in the scroll that’s accessible by the first link I posted above.

Or here’s another picture:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/theotherpete/3497070782/.

[...] Lackmeyer pointed out that Oklahoma City is getting ready to spend almost $100 million on downtown streetscape [...]

When in Chicago earlier this month, I took note of numerous details I thought contributed to excellence. Two of those relevant to your question, Steve:

Benches need not be bland…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffclick/4034080355/

Trash doesn’t have to look so trashy…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffclick/4034832018/

Perhaps it’s time for OKC to introduce to the world the 21st Century Bus Stop.

It is a ‘smart’ structure, with wi-fi, and an interactive information terminal. It would use live GPS and traffic data to tell waiting passengers when the bus will arrive. It would also advise passengers the suggested routes to connect with in order to go to specific locations input by the passenger. Perhaps a passenger could pre-pay the fare with a debit card at the bus stop, too.

The structure itself should be uniquely OKC, resembling a covered wagon, or perhaps a teepee. On heavy-passenger routes, the bus stops would be larger than those on less-traveled routes. They would have windbreaks on all sides and also have shaded areas for hot days.

I’m persuaded by other comments that contermporary would really be the way to go. I like the idea of something that ties in with some or our art deco buildings in the core as well.

Here’s a concept, I believe these are in Stockholm:

http://www.yeemadesign.com/pic/09419.jpg

Take a look at these photos. Some are functional, and some are not.

http://villageofjoy.com/interesting-bus-stops-around-the-world/

I’m definitely feeling the bus stop in Dubai or the glass tubes in Brazil.

I liked the streetscapes in Northfield, MN. I thought that alley archways were an interesting idea.

I would have to side with Blair on this though. We’ve been trying too long to be unique. We’ve got some very unique 70s-motif streetscapes at the moment. We need to cover the basics first with a new streetscape.

If we want to be unique, there are ideas already out there. Speck’s suggestions included decorative pavings in intersections, they could resemble an Oklahoma landscape, or an urban landscape, or who knows. As for bus stops, we already had a bus stop design competition and they just never implemented the new design because COTPA sucks.

Steve,

“This is no joke – speak up now and share photos or else accept what’s coming your way.” That’s a pretty scary statement… Are you suggesting that the design will be based on what is posted here? That doesn’t make sense.

Exactly WHO is responsible for selecting these important components? Is there a firm decision deadline? Is a cornucopia of images going to help the cause?

I’d just reinforce my previous comments: Make it contemporary, FUNCTIONAL, and technically advanced.

for the first time in my life, i’m beginning to feel real native pride at some recent public works; namely, the “buffalo wall” on broadway extension and the beautiful new bridge on the turner turnpike outside of wellston (hwy 102). these are not only beautiful, but quintessentially oklahoman.

robert moses created lasting beauty at jones beach by utilizing top designers creating something unique. while i certainly agree we want something durable, functional, and low maintenance, why not have something beautiful to look at, as well? we’re going to be looking at it for a long time, which seems to be steve’s point.

ha! my re-captcha code is “daily refinements.” amen!