A nationwide call to upgrade Bahrain’s bus shelters – particularly those in residential and commercial neighbourhoods – has been launched, with demands for air conditioning, improved safety features and enhanced accessibility.
The move has received backing from Bahrain’s three municipal councils and the Capital Trustees Board.
Currently, only Bahrain’s five main bus stations are equipped with air conditioners and Internet connections, leaving most other stops exposed to extreme heat and lacking basic facilities.
Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar dismissed fears that air conditioning units and Internet routers at new bus stops could be vandalised or stolen.
“These concerns are frankly ridiculous,” he said. “We cannot withhold comfort and dignity from passengers out of fear. Public infrastructure should be built for people, not against imagined threats.”
Mr Al Naar further warned that may laybys are blocked by selfish drivers causing passengers to board and alight in the middle of the road. He reiterated the need for better designs and determined enforcement to solve the issue.
Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif supported the call for improvement and emphasised that modern technology could prevent potential vandalism too.
“Surveillance cameras and regular monitoring could deter ill intentions. We must make cleanliness, comfort and safety part of the overall strategy,” he said.
“Damaged seating, broken shelters and neglected signage degrade the user experience. Clean and maintained bus stops invite more people to use public transport, helping to solve the challenges of traffic congestion and air quality.”
He called for waste bins at every stop, regular cleaning schedules and repairs to be included in future planning. “Bus stops are crucial components of urban mobility,” he added. “Unfortunately, many are outdated, badly located or inaccessible. A comprehensive review is vital.”
He stressed that poorly placed bus stops in parts of East and West Riffa and Isa Town require passengers to dangerously navigate roads.
“Stops must be placed at strategic intervals near residential zones, hospitals, schools and shopping centres to reduce walking distances and to improve safety,” he said.
Mr Abdullatif proposed installing shelters, seating, lighting, signage, wheelchair ramps, tactile paving for the visually impaired, and real-time arrival displays.
Northern Municipal Council chairman Dr Sayed Shubbar Al Wedaie called for a complete revamp of the bus shelter network.
“It’s time to modernise this essential service. The lack of shade, seating and safety at many stops is unacceptable,” he said. “We support this proposal and want it prioritised in current and future urban planning.”
Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah also joined the call, saying that the public transport system deserved to be as comfortable as the air conditioned ‘chill zone’ stations currently being installed for delivery drivers.
“Bus users deserve the same comfort. If we can provide shelter and air conditioning for delivery riders, we can do the same for thousands of commuters,” he said.
The push comes amid growing reliance on public transport.
Bahrain Public Transport Company – a joint venture between the UK’s National Express and local partner Ahmed Mansoor Al A’ali – has operated the country’s bus service since 2015, under a 10-year contract signed that September.
It is scheduled to expire in 2025.
There are 140 buses as part of the fleet, with 114 in operation, the network operates more than 26 routes and covers 80 per cent of populated areas, 726 trips are made daily from 583 stations.
The service averages 32,000 riders per day, though this is below the initial target of 51,000, due to congestion and slow speeds, as stated in documents referred to the councils and the board, obtained by the GDN.
The average speed of buses dropped from 23kmph in 2013 to 18kmph in 2019 due to worsening traffic congestion. Around 61pc of seat losses between the period from 2019-2024 were attributed to this issue.
The government compensates the operator with BD9 million annually, offset by around BD2m in revenue.
The total annual ridership stood at 11.7m and cumulative ridership from 2015 to 2024 was 89.2m.
According to 2023 data by the Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry there were 253 open bus shelters across the country and 44 air conditioned shelters or stations.
A meeting between the councils, the board, Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry officials and Bahrain Public Transport Company has been requested to discuss the future of the service.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))