Some riders have a short walk from the park and ride lot to the rail platform. Or they may have to cross the street to get from the bus stop to a shopping center. Others have a longer walk from their home to the bus stop. Providing a few amenities can make waiting for the bus or train a much more pleasant experience. For example, shelters with seating can offer protection from rain, snow, wind, and blazing sun.
Many transit agencies provide shelters at frequently-used bus stops and at outdoor rail stations.
The shelters should be positioned so that riders in wheelchairs have enough room to enter and exit the shelter. The sidewalk behind the shelter should be wide enough for two wheelchair users to pass each other and to handle the expected levels of pedestrian activity. Schedules and route maps may be placed at bus stops or in train stations to orient riders. Downtown bus shelters in some cities, such as Charlotte, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee, have video monitors that display bus departure times and route numbers. Overhead information signs on train platforms in Washington, DC, and San Francisco, California, display the number of minutes until the next train and its destination.