Network of modular bus stops.

OBJECTIVES AND ISSUES OF THE PROJECT.

We are designing a bus stop for the city where we live – Moscow. Despite the level of the capital’s development and active progress in the field of construction, bus stops of our city (especially in some particular districts) so far do not correspond to the level of architectural and technological development of Moscow. 

We are trying to draw attention to the following problems, which, in our opinion, are most relevant for Moscow bus stops, and which we want to try to solve in our project: 

· Climate conditions (which is the highest priority issue) 

· Modularity of bus stops and its implication 

· Compliance with the appearance of the city and proper scaling 

· Composition of the adjacent territory which should provide favorable conditions for people with limited mobility and protection from accidents 

· Developed infrastructure 

· Bus stop as a light point  

· Accessibility for foreign citizens 

· Selection of climate-appropriate materials 

· Protection against vandalism 

· Cost-effectiveness 

· Protection from COVID-19 

THE MAIN DECISIONS OF THE PROJECT 

Results of our survey of citizens on the most pressing problems of bus stops indicated that the number one problem is protection from adverse weather conditions in our climate zone – this applies not only to Moscow, but also to the whole country. The weather is extremely varied and sometimes unpredictable, characterized by a very wide temperature range (on average from -25°C to +25°C). Strong winds and constant precipitation are also common. 

That is why our modular bus stop provides a solution to the problem. Its left section is insulated, it is a closed room with air heating, where passengers can safely wait for their bus (panoramic windows allow them to monitor the approaching transport). During the summer period air conditioning is provided. 

The right section is an open waiting area with heated seats for cold weather, protection from precipitation in the form of a canopy and wind protection on both sides provided by protruded walls, which leave an open area of 100-115 degrees, not 180 degrees like those typical for regular bus stops. 

Also, as already mentioned, our main focus is the modularity of the bus stop. Moscow is a large and diverse city, it has developed central districts with large passenger traffic and an elaborate transportation network, as well as densely populated residential areas and sparsely populated urban-type settlements. This diversity led us to the idea of a bus stop consisting of two integral components, which can be installed either separately or in combination, depending on the average waiting time and certain other conditions. 

1. In places with high traffic (near the metro, for example), characterized by: 

o A large number of routes 

o High building density 

o An average waiting time of approx. 2 minutes 

=> it makes sense to place the open section – people do not stay for a long time, the bus stop’s main function is to mark the waiting area 

2.  In urban villages on the outskirts of Moscow, where: 

o Buses run rarely, few routes are present 

o As a rule, open areas are prevalent 

o An average waiting time reaches 30 minutes 

 => the insulated section of the stop, where both heating and air conditioning are provided, is more appropriate 

3. In suburban districts, which are: 

o Rapidly developing both infrastructurally and in terms of construction 

o Rather densely populated 

o Not supplied with many routes, therefore the average waiting time is 10-15 minutes 

=> a full-fledged bus stop with both sections is required, because people need a large waiting area with facilities to allow them to comfortably wait for the bus  

One of the most important problems we are trying to address is compatibility with the appearance of the city. It seems that the bus stop is only a small element of the transportation network, but, in fact, bus stops are quite frequently encountered by an average city dweller and are also very numerous, therefore, they make a big contribution to the overall impression of an urban environment. If a specific module that successfully and organically fits into any urban landscape is created, a harmonious, holistic appearance of the city can be easily achieved. It is also important to properly scale the bus stop: its surroundings and the stop itself can either be spacious or quite small, depending on the area. Therefore, the stop should have adjustable size and serve as a universal design decision at the same time. 

Our bus stop is a combination of straight static shapes with small dynamic slopes and canopies towards the street, which are softened by a smooth flow of shapes at the same time. Thus, the stop has a modern minimalistic look and does not give the impression of excessive dynamics, does not create a sense of incongruity of complex shapes. The most important element is the brand (emblem) of Moscow transport, Mosgortrans. To emphasize that the bus stops belong to Moscow, we decided to decorate the part near the name of the stop of the perimeter of the roofs with Mosgortrans brand design ornament and straight lines, which glow blue and echo the color of Moscow buses. 

Proper organization of constructive elements at the territorial level and convenience for people with limited mobility are very important. It is necessary to make the stop conveniently approachable (a special stop ledge is one of the ways to solve the problem), as well as to eliminate all curbs (or provide wide ramps) for better accessibility to disabled people. The stop should also be surrounded (especially from the side of the roadway) with relief tiles of yellow color, which help blind people to navigate. 

From the ecological standpoint, it makes sense to green the bus stop by surrounding it with lawns. 

Guardrails on the side of the roadway provide additional protection from accidents. 

INFRASTRUCTURE. COMFORT. 

Nowadays, a lot of attention is paid to infrastructure. We offer different types of equally sized modular interactive boards built into the walls, which provide the possibility of buying tickets, as well as a free - standing information board with a built-in schedule and some basic information about the movement of buses. USB-ports for phone charging are located between the seats and they also serve as seat dividers. 

It is impossible not to mention that Moscow is the capital and, therefore, receives many foreign citizens every year, so public transport stops should be convenient not only for citizens of our country, but also for tourists, which implies that all information must be duplicated in English. 

Also, the bus stop should be a bright point of light to attract attention, so the lighting should be active and play a significant role in the design

. 

Materials of the bus stop and their eco-friendliness in particular play an important role in our project. The base of the stop is concrete + a coating of white recyclable plastic. Also, the materials must correspond to the climate and purpose of implementation. For example, concrete slabs on the floor of a closed room will help to avoid slipping and will not suffer too much from constantly wet and dirty shoes. 

An important issue is security and protection from vandals. The solution is, first of all, reliably protected video surveillance cameras, which help prevent many acts of vandalism and also make the bus stop a safer place, because many crimes can be avoided by placing cameras and "warning" the violator about it. Another way to prevent vandalism lies in the use of special materials and paints. A strong and durable fiberglass fabric will be used to upholster the seat. The surface of the walls is covered with solvent-resistant paints, and the lamps are recessed into the celling and covered with shockproof glass, which prevents them from being easily broken. The glass of the insulated section is also shockproof, it helps to resist attempts by vandals to break it. Also, the bus stop should have a call button to report an emergency if necessary. 

To address the problem of coronavirus, an antiseptic dispenser for hands must be installed! 

AND ALSO 

The cost-effectiveness of the project is of utmost priority. Despite the importance of the external appearance of the stop, it is necessary to design it in such a way that it corresponds to its purpose and is not too pretentious. A significant part of the city budget is invested in the central districts, thus they can afford to build something expensive, while in residential areas such an opportunity is not always present. However, simplified trivial shapes are also not our task. We tried to create an interesting image not by utilizing costly and complex design decisions, but through combinations of simple volumes and minor shape modifications, which together create a dynamic image. 

Over time, our project may expand. As the economic level of the city improves, you can expand the network of full-fledged stops, as well as add possible additional sections with cutting-edge functionality. 

Before creating the final version, many different shapes and sketches were considered, which were replaced one after another in order to come to the best and most successful version, which we consider a balanced combination of aesthetic characteristics and convenience.