Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life. The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent. Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
Like River I usually run with a theme. Our public transport system is woeful. So what does the local Government do? It gussies up the bus stops. If the bus stop is prettier then of course more people will use the service and it will stop hemorrhaging money.
Despite my cynicism, the bus stop at my local shops does indeed look better. Before it was a lonely and inadequate shelter with a boring brick wall behind it. Now it is a lonely and inadequate shelter with rather a lot of murals. Some of which I like a lot. There are some weird juxtapositons though.
All our buses numberplates start with the word BUS. Which cracks me up. Taxis all start with TX.
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life. The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent. Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
Like River I usually run with a theme. Our public transport system is woeful. So what does the local Government do? It gussies up the bus stops. If the bus stop is prettier then of course more people will use the service and it will stop hemorrhaging money.
Despite my cynicism, the bus stop at my local shops does indeed look better. Before it was a lonely and inadequate shelter with a boring brick wall behind it. Now it is a lonely and inadequate shelter with rather a lot of murals. Some of which I like a lot. There are some weird juxtapositons though.
All our buses numberplates start with the word BUS. Which cracks me up. Taxis all start with TX.
That's some colorful murals
ReplyDeleteAuthor R. Mac Wheeler: That they are...
DeleteI'm sorry your bus service does not serve well; the murals are great to see. Flora, fauna, history and people. Quite the visual trip.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the murals probably help lift spirits of some who have to sit and wait. At least the flora and fauna would be pleasing to me. This gives me an idea.
DeleteJoanne Noragon: It is an incredible mixture isn't it? None of our first people depicted though.
DeleteGlenda Council Beall: It is bright and cheery to drive or walk past as well. I am interested to hear where your idea takes you.
DeleteThe murals are great. I prefer the nature based ones to the people based ones but that's just me. Well done someone for commissioning the works.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: I much prefer the nature based ones too. And wonder what the brief was. I do like that there are is a mixture of people though, and that the artists steered away from the suntanned blue-eyed blonde stereotype.
DeleteWell if you have an inadequate bus stop at least it can be pretty, right? Though the one with the gigantic face of the bearded guy would freak me out. There is something disquieting about looking up someones nose
ReplyDeleteAnne in the kitchen: I hadn't thought about that, and now can think of nothing else. At least they didn't paint the hairs...
DeleteNo art at the stop closest to home, for which I am now grateful.
I'll hold my tongue on the murals. But you know how I like (most) street art.
ReplyDeleteOn "personalised" plates...the Greyhound buses have similar identification with DOG on the big ones and PUP on the smaller mini-coaches.
dinahmow: I will keep my eye out for DOG and PUP now. That would make me smile too.
DeleteI suspect our feelings about public art are very similar. I do like it being there. Even the pieces I don't like.
I've just had a another look and wonder why there are no indigenes.Again.
Deletedinahmow: I had noted that in my reply to Joanne Noragon. I would really like to see the brief for the mural. No indigenous people, no sheep, no bushrangers...
DeleteVery pretty and so moves the minds of some, that you pretty up the outside, even if the inside is ugly as sin, and all will be well. Love those murals. I would dutifully sit there awhile for a bad bus ride, like an idiot, the stops being that prettied. I might fall for it.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: They profess themselves concerned that the buses are under used, and this is the solution. Mind you, it is probably easier to address than the timetable and the routes.
DeleteIsn't it amazing how money can be spent in the face of other needs? However, I do like the color and vivid spots your bus stops have now!!!!
ReplyDeleteBookie: I am with you. On both counts.
DeleteHmmm. It may just be the mood I am in but I don't really care for most of them. The one with the tank and the army general is just disturbing and scary.
ReplyDeleteBirdie: I have no idea where the general or the tank came from. And agree. I like the birds and the animals though.
DeleteIt's lovely. At least, they are trying by you. Ours are filled with garbage and pooh.
ReplyDeleteSonya Ann: Give it time. Ours are often garbage filled too. They are (mostly) poohless though.
DeleteThose look really vibrant and colourful indeed. Many thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBlogoratti: Very, very colourful.
DeleteAren't those great? I like the animals the best.
ReplyDeleteSandra Cox: So do I. I felt a bit sorry for the kanga though, he looks as if he ran into the timetable box.
DeleteI never even noticed that! Maybe he's just reading the timetable box:)
DeleteSandra Cox: He is doomed to disappointment then. I am pretty certain he wouldn't be allowed to board - unless of course he is a guide roo.
DeleteSome clever artwork there...I guess some have a story behind them, though what it is I dare not hazard a guess!
ReplyDeleteOne would never know what a bus was without it being named accordingly on the number lates....very thoughtful by those concerned!
I hope you and the Skinny One have a good week, EC. Stay cool...cuddles to Jewel and Jazz. :)
Lee: The heat is ramping up again here. Mid to high thirties this week. I hope the cooler can be fixed. Quickly.
DeleteI wonder about the theme for the murals too. And may investigate.
A great week to the three of you too.
What is with the guy in military regalia and the cannon gun? So bizarre when you look at the other themes. Maybe it is a nod to the Royal Military College, but he looks more like a dictator.
ReplyDeletecarol: I haven't the remotest idea where he came from. Or why. I thought he was incongruous. And would have liked to see a nod to our first peoples too.
DeleteThis one baffled me too!
DeleteVery enjoyable, thank you
ReplyDeleteMartin Kloess: I am glad.
DeleteI do really like the flora and fauna. They are very well done, bright and cheery. Would definitely cheer up my mood if the bus was late!
ReplyDeleteCountryMum: The buses are OFTEN late. That is a given, but I agree about the flora and fauna.
DeleteSome serious talent there.
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: I assume they are professionals. And yes, they do have some skills.
DeleteI love them, juxtapositons, I think. The street murals are beautiful EC.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: I am in favour of colour too. I do like the emu. And the echidna...
DeleteThey obviously had a variety of artists working. Think the ones without the people work best.
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: I do too. And there are many more of our birds and animals they could have featured.
DeleteIt does look much nicer. Perhaps the idea is that people will spend so much time looking at the murals they won't notice how long it takes for a bus to appear.
ReplyDeleteI like the BUS/TX idea, I think we should adopt that nationwide.
River: I am tickled by dinahmow's comment about Greyhound buses. I will have to look out for them.
DeleteThe only bus service we have is the Greyhound bus that stops twice a day. I like the murals with birds best.
ReplyDeletemshatch: Do your Greyhound buses have the DOG and PUP numberplates? And yes, I like the birds (and the animals) the best too.
DeleteGreat idea, although a little strange in the execution of it...? But very colourful and interesting - I'd rather have the murals than boring old walls.
ReplyDeleteAlexia: I would rather have murals than a brick wall too. I doubt that it will do anything to encourage more people to use the service though.
DeleteThe murals are colorful and bright – in addition there is a bench and a shelter against the rain. I remember in New York City coming out of a show, downtown Manhattan on Broadway, we stood by a bus stop where there was no bench, no shelter – it was raining, and just a sign “Bus stop” on top of a pole, and many bus stops are like that there. Here, we have no buses at all. If the car is not working we have to walk – I made an appointment with a taxi once to go to the hospital for a test and the taxi never showed up – said they had received a better ride request – to the airport. So I’d love to have your buses here, even if their route is not perfect …
ReplyDeleteVagabonde: I have lived in places without a bus service too. However, I think the National Capital could do better than it does. Quite a lot of our bus stops are also signs on poles with no shelter. Taxis not turning up seems to be common worldwide. At least yours were honest about why they didn't show - infuriating and inconvenient as it must have been.
DeleteThe murals are wonderful they do brighten the place up a lot .
ReplyDeleteMerle............
Merlesworld: I agree. I am a big fan of street art, even the bits I don't like.
DeleteThey are lovely, all right. And like VB said, they have shelter from the (hopefully) rain, and gosh, they are pretty to look at. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: I am very glad you enjoy them.
DeleteThe murals are nice... but how do they improve service? *eyeroll* I like the nature ones best. The guy in the military uniform with a cannon behind him would give me pause about using that particular stop.
ReplyDeleteRiver Fairchild: I really don't understand that one. I am sure that there is a theme, but it isn't evident to me. And no, service remains much the same. Except for the period where they were doing the murals where it was much worse. That stop was simply skipped for a few weeks, and a temporary one put in up the hill. Not good for people carrying shoppin.
DeleteColor surrounds you. How wonderful that is!
ReplyDeleteStarting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: I am a big fan of colour. It can brighten the mood as well as the scene.
DeleteThanks for the tour of them, they all look wonderful. Some clever people about.
ReplyDeleteMargaret-whiteangel: I much prefer some of the images to others, but like the colour that all of them provide.
DeleteAn interesting although puzzling mixture of topics! I do like the nature ones, though. If you find out more about this I would love to read about it.
ReplyDeleteWe have regional buses but not town buses. Our geography is too spread out, user levels were too low, and gas cost was too high - so the service was removed. We do have a few buses for disabled riders, though. My father used it regularly for medical and eye appointments. The drivers were angels. Not literally, but ... you know. They were kind and hard-working and patient.
jenny_o: Town buses are (at the moment) our only public transport. They are not well used, in part because of the routes and timetable. It can be up to an hour between buses outside peek hour even on week days.
DeleteI believe that we have some transport available for people with disabilities, but it isn't well publicised.
If I find out any more I will let you know.
Some of those murals are a sheer delight while others not so much.
ReplyDeleteI can understand the prefixes BUS and TX as one could easily get the two types of vehicles confused. Maybe it is to cater for all those politicians in Canberra. Wouldn't do to get them confused.
Mimsie: If only the politicians used the buses I suspect the timetable would improve. They do use taxis - but only when a Commonwealth car is not available. Sigh.
DeleteIt is a shame because Canberra is such an amazing place, it deserves excellent public transport. I wonder if they might consider putting in some trams as so many states are doing now. :) Northborne Ave seems like it was born to have trams running down the middle of it, no? :)
ReplyDeleteSnoskred: Trams are indeed planned for Northbourne Avenue. I will mourn the trees though. And the tram/light rail will only serve a small section of the city. Essentially the city to Gungahlin. The rest of us will continue to have only the buses.
DeleteNice to have murals but they aren't my cup of tea, much too large almost too bright for my taste in murals. our town is too small for public transportation.
ReplyDeleteLinda Starr: Some of them I like, some I don't. I am very glad to see them though.
DeleteI like the parrot one the best, which seems to be in a different style than the other people centric murals. A bus stopped regularly behind my old house with an automatic voice loudly announcing the next stop. That and the loud crossing that kept reminding walkers that though the cars should stop, they might not.
ReplyDeleteSue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: The flora and fauna ones get my vote. A crossing warning people? That is new to me. I am pretty certain we don't have them. I wonder about the legal ramifications too - he was warned that the car might not stop. Damages reduced for contributory negligence...
DeleteBeautifying the world one mural at a time. Glad to know how to spot a bus by the tag. LOL!
ReplyDeleteGranny Annie: Helpful isn't it?
DeleteHi EC - gosh how fascinating to learn about the "Bus" and "TX" numberplate starting letters ... I'd laugh too .. yes sir (to police man re a crime) I saw the numberplate ... it started with Bus?!
ReplyDeleteThose murals look amazing - it'd be good to see them close-up ... and for the moment I'm not jumping on a plane to come out and look! One day perhaps ..
They're fun and cheerful ... and I hope appreciated ... cheers Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: I find humour in lots of places, and have been surprised at how many people have never noticed the BUS number plates...
DeleteSo enlightening--from central AR in central-south USA--to read about/see Australian sights and sites. Glad our paths crossed somewhere, somehow.
ReplyDeletePatricia A. Laster: I am so grateful to have found the blogosphere. It has enriched and widened my world in ways I could never have dreamt of.
DeleteThey're cracking! Ideally the actual transport would be a priority mind you...tsk. Still, so good on the eye, lovely pictures dearie *smiles*.
ReplyDeleteAll Consuming: Typical politican's priorities. Appearance is all. And while I am grateful for the appearance, I would like some substance too.
DeleteI like the flora and fauna, very much.
ReplyDeleteThe rest is rather an odd, eclectic mix though.
And, no indigenous people? Shame. And shameful.
Our first caretakers of this land ignored...
Vicki: I am in complete agreement. The flora and fauna are lovely. Some of the rest are weird. I like that not all of the faces are Caucasian, and mourn for the indigenous people ignored. Again.
Deletegorgeous murals!
ReplyDeleteBus & TX is interesting.
What is Car? xx
My Inner Chick: They seem to think we can all recognise a car without assistance. And are probably right.
DeleteHugs.
Ah, gosh.. these are so great! I love driving in the downtown area by where I live. So much beautiful artwork on the walls... maybe eventually before I move I'll take pictures of them all :)
ReplyDeleteMadilyn Quinn: Do it. Please. I would love to see your downtown artwork.
DeleteCheerful- and as you predicted: still empty.
ReplyDeleteCloudia: I took the photo on a weekday. On the weekend (when the numbers of buses drops dramatically) that would look crowded.
DeleteWow! These are very bright and bold. Definitely gives people something to look at and chat about. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
DMS: It does. I like the colour (while regretting some omissions) but would really, really like the service fixed. Yes, I know. I am greedy.
DeleteJust like a government- gussy something up with pretty colors and think that that fixes everything! I am always in awe of people who can paint faces that actually look like real faces!
ReplyDeleteTerri @ Coloring Outside the Lines: I am always in awe of people who can paint. Anything.
DeleteI love your murals in the buss stop.
ReplyDeleteThey make the waiting time a lot more fun.
Have nice week (middle the murals)
orvokki: They add a cheery splash of colour don't they? Colour which is absent from the bus stop closest to home.
DeleteLove the heart of a person who splashes their imagination all over a brick wall:) Such freedom.
ReplyDeleteIt must be a brave thing to paint like that.
Bet it gives weary travelers courage:)
Brave bold brushstrokes to you, friend:)
-Jennifer
Jennifer Richardson: And to you. I hope your birthday was WONDERFUL.
DeleteNice and colorful.
ReplyDeleteTake care and have a good week, EC.
Rawknrobyn: Thank you - and to you.
DeleteTransportation art! These are some beautiful murals. The colors really draw your attention.
ReplyDelete(Cynical mode on: It would be interesting to discover how much was spent on the project and what improvements to the actual service could have been made with that amount.)
(Cynical mode off.)
But if the license tag didn't say "bus" how would I know to get on one??
Wally Jones: How nice to learn that someone else has an on and off switch for their cynicism.
DeleteI wonder how much luck I would have flagging any old (or new) vehicle down as I waited at bus stops (coloured or plain stops...). You may have a point and only the ones with BUS would stop for me.
Wow, that's beautiful street art. I wish my local town space had some areas where kids were licensed to paint like that.
ReplyDeleteJohn Wiswell: There are some areas in the city where people were encouraged to play too. And some of the work was brilliant. It seems to keep the grafitti down too.
DeletePerhaps there are no sheep in the murals for the same reason it might not be wise in Scotland...
ReplyDeleteYes, I giggled as I typed that. Sorry?
Jacquelineand...: Giggles are never something to apologise for. Mind you I don't think our sheep are nervous (as in, 'men are men and sheep are nervous...')
DeleteHi Sue,
ReplyDeleteWow, those murals are amazing, varied and most colourful. You wait ages for one colourful bus stop and a whole bunch show up at once....
Gary :)
klahanie: Dear Gary, Lovely to see you drop by with skilled word play. Most of our bus stops are MUCH less vivid.
Deletewow yall do have some pretty bus stops. I like the colorful pics
ReplyDeleteKim @ Stuff could: Most of our bus stops are considerably duller. And no less empty.
DeleteFabulous shots.
ReplyDeleteladyfi: Thank you.
DeleteI look forward to these posts each week - such beauty!
ReplyDeleteClaire: What a lovely thing to say.
Deletecool murals. I love that the Bus license plate starts with "bus" like folks might accidently hop into a Mini-cooper by mistake.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: Or perhaps it helps our local government count its assets. Bus no 1, bus no 2 ...
DeleteI've never paid attention to our bus license plates over here. I'll have to check them out.
ReplyDeleteSandra Cox: I suspect it is peculiar to our local government - but loved hearing that (here at least) Greyhound buses are dogs, and the minibuses pups.
DeleteHa! Interesting;)
DeleteSandra Cox: Having heard about it I have been on the look out - and haven't seen a Greyhound bus since.
DeleteLOL. Typical isn't it. Have a great one, EC.
DeleteMetaphorically speaking, its possible these wondrous murals are trying to tell us something.
ReplyDeleteSpacerguy: And will the people be able to read the writing on the wall? We don't have a good track record on that count.
DeleteThose are some cool murals! I love that they're beautifying places :).
ReplyDeleteRula Sinara: So do I, but I would also like them to address the other issues.
DeleteThese murals are awesome and they belong more in art galleries than bus stops. They make everything more colorful
ReplyDeleteRasma Raisters: Much as I love art galleries, I think these murals belong on the street, where they are more accessible to more people. My city has a LOT of public art for which I am very grateful.
DeleteI was going to mention graffiti but see that's already been done, which is all well and lovely but a bit odd if the basics of getting the transport meeting people's needs isn't addressed first. Maybe an artist could paint a collection of bored would-be commuters, or, haha, that's just brought back a very old memory of a sign on the west coast of the south island in NZ showing a hitch-hiker's skeleton sitting with a backpack as a warning to other hikers that lifts were few and far between. Maybe images like that in bus shelters would encourage the authorities to run more buses.
ReplyDeleteKim: I like that idea. Perhaps a few deceased wannabe bus patrons would do the trick. So long as they were fare paying patrons.
DeleteLove the animal pix. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Mahlou: Welcome and thank you. I like the birds, plants and animals best too.
DeleteSuch good artists represented there - that must have been fun to do (hopefully when it was not so hot there!)
ReplyDeleteWe have a good transit system here in Atlanta, but I don't like to ride it. I did some when I went back to college in 2003, but ended up driving after some not so good experiences on the train. It was good for people watching though. :)
Lynn: They finished it just before the hot weather hit. I am a people watcher too. Fascinating, but not always pretty.
DeleteOh I really like the bright murals, so much more inspirational that bare bricks. My fave is the kangaroo who is just about to leap from the bus shelter! I love the idea of the bus licence plates. Licences here are very ordinary but for A PRICE YOU CAN GET A CUSTOMISED LICENCE PLATE AND SOME OF THEM ARE VERY INNOVATIVE AND FUNNY. OOPS SORRY ABOUT CAPITALS. WASN'T WATCHING.
ReplyDeleteShammickite: We can get customised licence plates too. I suspect the price is fairly high though. And some of them are clever and others a bit 'meh'.
DeleteThat's a pretty awesome labeling system for public transit.
ReplyDeleteCrystal Collier: I wonder whether our government thinks we are all a bit thick and need the help...
DeleteWhatever and however your transport system is, the murals are really awesome. Hehe.
ReplyDeletedumcho wangdi: My greedy self would like both. Murals, and an efficient public transport system.
DeleteI think your government is wise I could sit and admire the artwork all day. Here we see glass closed in bus stops with snow banks outside right now in our cities. Hug B
ReplyDeleteButtons Thoughts: Snow banks? Not a happening thing here. We get baking sun, and very little shelter for it. Occasional rain. And we get wet. I am a big fan of public art though. All of it, including the pieces I don't like. I believe it is good for our souls.
DeleteIt's been a lot of years since I had to rely on buses, but before Smarticus and I were married, I rode them back and forth to work every day, and to go downtown, whatever. But trust me, none of our bus stops looked as appealing as yours. We didn't even have a lonely inadequate shelter. Nothing. Of the ones you showed, I think I'd prefer one with the pictures of birds or people on them. Not so much the cannon.
ReplyDeleteOf course, they have to say BUS on those license plates. Otherwise, the uninformed might think it's a noisy noxious dinosaur...
Happy weekend!
Susan: Believe it or not, these photos are all of the same bus stop. The others are mural free. The birds and the animals are my favourite. Definitely not the cannon.
DeleteAh yes, it all certainly grabs our attention, and I do mean that in a wonderful, make my day kind of moment. It's bound to make folks joyful I'd guess. The colors are just incredible too.
ReplyDeleteKaren S.: I am not sure how many people notice them. I certainly got some confused looks when I was there with my camera...
DeleteWhat day is your bday, EC?
ReplyDeleteSandra Cox: Monday.
Delete" Now it is a lonely and inadequate shelter with rather a lot of murals. "
ReplyDeleteThat cracked me up.
The murals are super cool! I love that kind of thing.
Dawn@Lighten Up!: And on the weekends it is even lonlier... But bright.
DeleteBlessings ...
ReplyDeletewell it all makes for great stimulations of the eyes and mind, all that color and artistic rendering.
*bus* yeah makes you want to go "really" who would have thonk it. Its kind of like the warning on the peanut package that says "may contain trace of peanuts" boggles the mind doesn't it.
Have a blessed day
Rhapsody
Rhapsody: Welcome and thank you. I am always in favour of public art. And wonder whether our govt. thinks we are all stupid. Or if someone had a sense of humour.
DeleteI loved your bus stops! :-) I have to say that my only criticism of London's transport system is that it is too uninspiring. Bar for a few stops and stations, most don't convey the amount of creativity that happens in this place. There is no consistency.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
A Cuban in London: I would be very happy if my only criticism was that the system was uninspiring. Sadly it is inadequate. Some day... I do love the colour though. On some stops. Not all of them by any means.
DeleteI like the first one, very colorful. The stops here suck. Some of them don't have shelter or benches.
ReplyDeleteRiot Kitty: All of these were taken at the one bus stop. Most of ours are like yours. A pole in the ground which says it is a stop.
DeleteComing from an art deprived environment, I love 'em all [except for the army guy one] :-D
ReplyDeleteneena maiya (guyana gyal): The army one is weird isn't it? What were they thinking?
DeleteHow does it last ten minutes without graffiti?
ReplyDeleteSnowbrush: The areas with 'official graffiti' in the form of murals seem to last a lot longer. The bus stop has been in place for months now, with no graffiti to be seen. Before the murals went up it was tagged quite regularly.
Delete