Covering Customers at the Stop

Powder-coating is also a way to curb vandalism, as it is more difficult to etch than normal paint.

For the Sombrero Shelter, vandalism is more difficult as there is less to damage than a standard shelter. Plus, it is designed in a way to keep the structure intact.

“There is very little to damage,” Bright says. “The post can be repainted if needed or covered with an anti graffiti lacquer, and the canopy is reinforced fiberglass and almost 8 feet high. It is also designed so people cannot hang off the edge.”

And shelter manufacturers are continuing to develop new amenities for shelters as communities try to encourage more and more riders to their mass transit systems.

“I believe the current advances in bus shelters are a foretaste of much more to come as we increase our reliance on mass transportation,” Arvidson says.