Community Bus Stop Transformations

Project Proposal:

If I had unlimited resources and didn't have to worry about the logistical issues (like finances) of a public art project, I would transform bus stops throughout Albuquerque through an Adopt-A-Stop style program.

Community activist groups and schools in Albuquerque would be able to submit proposals to the Adopt-A-Spot program featuring their ideas of how to transform or improve bus stops through creative projects. The people on the Adopt-A-Stop program team would then work with the groups to put each project into action.

Projects should feature positive themes such as sustainability, human rights, eating healthy, exercising, etc. Projects with a use value would be greatly appreciated. Some projects with use value might include solar panels or rooftop gardens.

With unlimited resources, these bus stops wouldn't have to only feature two-dimensional posters or drawings. People could completely transform bus stops by replacing and redesigning the structure of the bus stop itself. Each stop would still have to be functional, of course (i.e. with a bench and a shelter to protect from weather), but everything else would be fair game as far as what can be transformed. 

The people on the Scottish island of Unst – all 614 of them – take great pride indecorating the stop. It started with a sofa and a table and now has a TV, art and even curtains.

Made by artist Aaron Scales, the bus stop was part of a national design competition. Inspired by discarded trash at the site, Scales went local with his work, constructing the bus stop out of all local Kentucky soft drink Ale-8-One bottles. The bus stop also uses LED lighting to illuminate the glass bottles at night; solar energy is collected during the day and used for the eye-popping nighttime light display.

Air conditioned bus stop--Dubai

Rainbow bus stop bench. This project was the result of an Adopt-A-Stop program that has already been set up in Texas. More about the program here: http://www.capmetro.org/riding/adopt_a_stop.asp

Tree bus stop--Santa Fe, NM

Here is an example of what we don't want ^^

Garden bus stop; This idea could be modified to host bird houses or bird seed wreaths.

 "Beat a Drum," a creation of Dominique Davison of Kansas City, Mo.--Athens, GA

Swing on a Bus Stop in London, part of Bruno Taylor's "Playful Spaces" art project

The Fowey Bus Stop in Cornwall, England

Other Ideas:

• Rock wall bus stop
• Meditation bus stop
• Bus stop with inspirational/motivational sayings such as "How to Save the World"
• Bus stop with a skateboard ramp
• Bus stop with chalkboard walls
• Hammock bus stop--Vancouver