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San Francisco's solar powered bus stops spread Wi-Fi all over
Why does a bus stop need to be solar powered, you ask? To power its LED lighting, intercom system and even a wireless router — at least, that's how it is with these swanky new bus stops being installed in San Fransisco. The stop you see up above is the first of the 1,100 wavy-topped, solar-powered bus stops the city wants to roll out by 2013.
For anyone who relies on public transportation, that dedicated, low power lighting sounds great during a late night commute. For everyone else, a city-wide blanket of Wi-Fi is just awesome. The stops also give whatever energy they don't use back to the grid, and are built using mostly recycled materials. Check out more of them in the gallery down below.
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SF Street Blog, via Inhabitat
By R00B0y at 6:25 PM ON 06/01/09
Great idea, but I am sure they'll last all of 2 minutes in the real world. Between teen vandals/Adult vandals and technology thieves these 1100 units will be smashed stripped and destroyed in day or weeks.
I hope I am wrong but every other type of bus stop is usually wrecked within weeks of being installed.
By Mr. Gumsandals at 7:06 PM ON 06/01/09
Sounds like you live in Miami. Where I live. Still, if every good idea gets slammed dunked to the trash heap because of the possibility it might get trashed by vandals or misued by terrorists, then nothing moves ahead and life never gets better. Anyway, this is San Francisco, a city that's been wearing flowers in its hair since 1967.
By Ilive.near.there at 8:07 PM ON 06/01/09
Few things about the placement of that bus stop.
It's across the street from a middle school. One I use to go to. The kids there will strip that thing not for parts, but like a pack of rabid wild dogs picking apart a kitten in some dead end dark alley. I love San Francisco, but they are wasting money like a race horse gots to pee.
By smith134 at 11:46 PM ON 06/01/09
I appreciate free wireless, It is possibility that peoples spend their most of time here.
By san antonio native at 9:38 AM ON 06/17/09
I'm interning at transit company in san antonio and it's good to see that people are coming up with new innovative ways for the public to use public transportation. We definitely need more people willing to set aside their cars for the day and use the bus system! Great idea san francisco!
Usually, if the site is in a public place in san antonio, it rarely gets vandalized (just FYI).
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