According to a stunning study by Uthealth, Houston, a bus shelter designed to protect commuters from extreme weather, designed to protect commuters from extreme weather may actually worsen the enthusiasm of summer. A new study shows that bus shelters enclosed with acrylic walls and metal frames can be like miniature greenhouses that capture heat and create more dangerous conditions than standing in the danger of direct sunlight.
“Because the enclosed acrylic wall has metal trapped inside the shelter, like an oven, making it hotter than the oven outside the shelter.”
The team measured thermal stress at 17 Houston bus stations during 13 hot summers, reaching 95-103°F. Using specialized sensors that record wet ball bulb temperature (WBGT) (occupies air temperature, humidity, wind speed and solar radiation), they found that a common shelter design actually increased by 5.2°F by 5.2°F compared to standing outside.
Trees proved to be the most effective cooling option, reducing thermal stress by an average of 5.9°F. In shelter design, those who promote open structures of airflow are much better than closed models that capture heat.
This discovery is of great significance to public health. Transit riders who often walk to the bus stop and then wait in potentially dangerous heat are at increased risk of heat-related illness. The study shows that poorly designed shelters could be a form of “maladaptive” – infrastructure designed to help people adapt to climate change, which inadvertently worsens the situation.
“The results can be used as evidence for planting trees at bus stops to maximize cooling, and if shelter is the only option, it is strategic in terms of design.”
As cities try to encourage public transportation to reduce emissions and combat climate change, the study highlights how important it is to consider the thermal safety of waiting passengers, especially in low-income communities where tree canopies are often sparse and transit-dependent. As climate forecasts show more extreme heat over the next few decades, the right shelter design will not be higher.
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