Are shelters in place? Mapping the distribution of transit amenities via a bus-stop census of San Francisco

Transit stops serve as crucial components of journeys for riders, but their condition is often left out equity considerations. Two important empirical questions are what stop amenities, such places to sit, clear signage, shelters inclement weather, and unobstructed curbs present, how they distributed across systems, which may reveal neighborhood or route-specific disparities. San Francisco, CA represents an ideal case pursue this question, given it maintains a ‘transit first’ policy directive that mandates public space prioritize transit over private automobiles. An in-person census 2964 street-level bus was conducted three months, finds majority lack both seating shelter any kind, route signage varies widely in format legibility, roughly one third all obstructed by on-street parking, rendering them difficult use exposing riders oncoming traffic. Stops the city’s northern half more likely feature seating, shelter, curbs, whereas amenity “coldspots” nearly lie within southern half. Stop amenities also vary sharply route, routes with longest headways (and thus waiting times) provide on average least curbs. These – present greater degree Census tracts higher shares white residents. This demonstrates evaluations must include overlooked, can undermine transit’s attractiveness, even compound long-standing imbalances service quality underserved communities. Furthermore, studies kind inform where upgrades should be prioritized, targeting those areas currently lacking high-quality stops, raising minimum standard overall. Finally, data collected almost entirely unavailable current trip-planning wayfinding applications, work raises possibility expanding transit-data standards details.