(By Adam Andrzejewski, RealClear Wire) Los Angeles recently unveiled a new prototype of a structure to provide shade and light at city bus stops as part of its gender equity action plan.
Named “La Sombritas,” the four pilot structures cost around $10,000 a piece, and will soon be built across LA.
According to StreetsBlog LA, the structures were designed by nonprofit Kounkuey Design Initiative, and were commissioned in response to women in LA asking for more shade and lighting at bus stops.
In a statement, the organization said, “The participants in our resident advisory committee for the Gender Equity Action Plan expressed a clear need for lighting and shade, this is a way to move the needle on that.”
The very narrow structures are aptly described by Slate as “a Popsicle-shaped metal grate, 24 inches wide, bolted to the top of a bus pole near the edge of the curb.” They feature a meshed metal grate meant to create shade, and also boast a light for nighttime.
Despite their elementary design, LA Mayor Karen Bass lauded the structures, saying, “Improvements like La Sombrita will make our neighborhoods safer, healthier and more livable.”
StreetsBlog noted that while the ideas of providing shade from the hot sun and light at night are good, faster, more frequent bus service should be prioritized to get riders off the sidewalk and onto the bus faster.
Only government could find a way to spend close to $10,000 to affix a piece of sheet of metal on a pole to provide shade and light and tout it as advancing gender equity.
