AN APPROACH TO IMPROVE LOCAL BUS STOPS IN THE INNER-CITY OF KARACHI

Abstract

Public spaces are an important part of human life. These spaces account for the intellectual growth of individuals and invoke a spirit of their own. Everybody can access these places any time of the day. Sidewalks, streets, markets, parks, recreational spaces, public squares and bus stops come under the category of public spaces. Most bus stops in a city remain vibrant throughout the day. All sorts of people and activities can be observed at bus stops. Despite the need and importance of bus stops, they are often poorly integrated or neglected and are not given the attention that makes them successful public and active social gathering space. The purpose of this study is to explore how to improve the present condition of public bus stops so that the use increases, and they become welcoming places, in the context of Karachi. This study investigates the kind of amenities required at bus stops to provide comfort to public. Moreover, it is researched as to how to make bus stops active places that foster community engagement and enhance rider experience. Using qualitative analysis approach (observation, interviews), the research was carried out at two inner-city local bus stops of Karachi. The main focus of the research was the University Road, because of personal travelling and daily observation on this road by public transport. The stops selected for research were NIPA and Hassan Square, because these are most used locations on this main road. The findings suggested that local bus stops of the city support interaction between people and are perfect incubators of life on streets. Through improvements to the existing condition of bus stops, they can contribute to the development of social ties and increase the use of local transport in the inner-city neighborhoods. The study concludes that public bus stops are not only an important part of transport infrastructure but also serve as social nexus for people, where people gather, wait for buses, converse with their fellow riders and discuss different activities of their lives. If equipped with all necessary amenities, the bus stops can decrease the traffic load of the city because more people will be encouraged to use public transport and can fulfill much more than transportation needs; they can provide opportunity to different ethnic groups to mingle and stimulate social cohesion. Keywords: Bus stops, community engagement, social ties, social nexus, social cohesion.