Shelters and Public Transportation Platform Roofing in Prague
Abstract: Public transportation is a common and essential part of all modern cities. What motivates passengers to use public transportation is not just the cost but mostly its simplicity, speed, attractiveness and comfort. Apart from the level of provided service (vehicle stock, connection frequency and capacity, fare system etc.) it is equally important to build and restore a proper infrastructure. Besides “linear” infrastructure, such as metro tunnels, tram tracks, reserved bus lanes etc., the stops and their equipment are basic elements of the system followed by interchange hubs, big transport hubs, metro stations and train stations. It is the surroundings of stops or transport hubs that is one of the most frequented places in public space. Each stop should be equipped according to transportation system requirements. The fundamental facilities are always the same – shelters or different forms of platform roofing which should provide comfort for passengers. The article deals with different types of shelters and roofing of the public transportation platforms in Prague and compares them to selected examples from other cities in the Czech Republic or foreign countries. It concerns standardized bus or tram shelters in different variations, platform roofing of bus terminals in the vicinity of metro stations and roofing of important transport hubs in the city centre.
