Worcester City Council is the first local authority in the country to place orders for a new kind of bus shelter which replaces traditional aluminium construction with a radical eco-friendly design.
Dubbed the Smart Plus shelter, the graffiti-resistant and antimicrobial hubs are made from recycled bottles and can be recycled again at the end of their life.
Real time passenger information is provided inside and on the shelter itself, with a large interactive display giving travellers information on their journey. A smart bike and scooter rack will offer travel alternatives while smart lighting and integrated CCTV provides security.
Continuing the sustainability theme, power comes partly from two solar panels and a vertical wind turbine. The first shelter, which is being installed in Cathedral Square in Worcester, will also feature a sedum green roof to both absorb carbon and promote the activity of bees and other pollinating insects.
The shelters are being supplied and installed by partners 21st Century and Etesian Green Technologies, who will also jointly maintain them.
“We’re really proud to be leading the way with this sort of technology on our transport network,” says Cllr Alan Amos, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways and Transport. “These smart shelters will act as hubs across the county and will feature technology designed to promote public transport and demonstrate that it is a clean, safe and sustainable way to travel.
“The shelters also contribute to our environmental initiatives with the one in Worcester featuring a sedum roof to attract pollinators. I look forward to seeing the shelters installed and being used.”
