23 May 2024
SYSTRA, in collaboration with the Danish Road Directorate and the working group for public transport regulations, has developed a collection of examples for bus stop environments. This collection includes 12 proposals designed to serve as inspiration for the design and sustainable material selection of bus stops in Denmark.

INSPIRATION CATALOG 

The purpose of this collection of examples is to inspire municipalities to work on creating better bus stop environments, enhancing the bus passengers experience, and attracting more travelers to public transportation. Therefore, this collection should be viewed as an inspiration catalog. 

Over the years, The Public Transport Companies have optimized bus routes, frequency, and comfort in buses, thereby improving public transportation and increasing the number of passengers. However, it has become evident that improvements at bus stops and in the surrounding environment have significant potential to not only enhance the experience for current users but also attract more bus passengers. 

30% OF THE JOURNEY IS SPENT AT A STOP 

30% of the time used on travelling by public transportation is spent getting to and from stops, as well as waiting at these stops before the bus arrives. Therefore, the design of the stop and accessibility to and from the stops are important to passengers.

This is why SYSTRA has chosen to focus on solutions within five main themes: 

  • Traffic safety and security 
  • Comfort, information, and wayfinding 
  • Accessibility 
  • Sustainability and climate protection 
  • Landscape and urban spaces 

SYSTRA has contacted a wide range of employees in the municipalities involved, who have made their knowledge available for the good examples in the collection. 

SUSTAINABLE CHOICES OF MATERIALS AND LOWER CO2 EMISSIONS 

According to Statistics Denmark, the transport sector accounts for approximately 25% of Denmark’s total CO2 emissions. By promoting public transportation instead of car usage, CO2 emissions can be reduced, as buses have significantly lower CO2 emissions per passenger kilometer. 

The collection of examples describes how the construction of bus stops with a focus on sustainable material choices can contribute to a lower CO2 footprint during the construction phase, for instance, by using the material pyramid and requiring product-specific Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and life cycle analyses. 

Additionally, sustainable initiatives are described that can help lower operational costs, such as avoiding grass areas that require ongoing maintenance and instead introducing nutrient-poor soil with biodiversity-promoting local plant species, as well as using recycled tiles or alternative pavements. 

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