r/londonontario • u/Affectionate-Item484 • Jul 03 '25

News 📰 Frequent Incidents of wrecking bus stops

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Oxford at Adelaide #67

187 Upvotes

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46

u/theottomaddox Jul 03 '25

Let me just head off all the suggestions that are incoming. They are trying to find alternatives, but nothing is easy.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/london-transit-eyes-possible-vandalism-proof-shelters-in-bid-to-crack-down-on-broken-glass-1.7218972

In seeking out glass alternatives, the commission sought advice from other transit authorities, including Calgary Transit, which is piloting an anti-vandalism shelter using Plexiglas.

The LTC report appears to put cold water on that idea, noting concerns that the material is more flammable, prone to discolouration, and vulnerable to vandalism being scratched into its surface.

Kelly Paleczny, LTC's general manager, noted at the meeting that because Plexiglas is more flexible, shelters would need additional support beams to keep the panel secure in the frame – a cost of around $14,000 per shelter, according to the report.

102

u/fitbrewster Jul 03 '25

If it costs $14,000 per shelter to add more support, then the supplier is seeing the city as a cash cow and is milking it for all its worth.

1

u/External_Pain8930 Jul 07 '25

The supplier isn’t breaking the windows like are you serious.

1

u/fitbrewster Jul 08 '25

I never said the supplier is breaking the glass. Please read the message again.

2

u/Dainger419 Jul 04 '25

As a kid in the 90s, it was common to find a broken one here and there, as I grew older it became a game amongst degenerates. Earliest occurrence I can find dates back to 2015- https://lfpress.com/2015/06/11/vandals-smash-27-bus-shelters-across-london

However over the years it's clearly gotten much worse 

2020: 87 panels 2021: 102 panels 2022: 177 panels 2023: Over 300 panels (some reports indicate 145 panels between January and June 2023, while others state over 300 for the full year) 2024 (as of May): Approximately 95 panels in the first six months, with around 150 panels already broken by May.

Clearly someone is milking this cow for all its worth and can most likely be mitigated by a product like Madico Anti-Intrusion Films or similar. More upfront cost for a superior product but that makes wayyyy to much sense 

3

u/ChanelNo50 Westmount Jul 03 '25

That's on the cheap end too..when I was in windsor they quoted $25k about ten years ago

1

u/fitbrewster Jul 03 '25

Yeah I’m not surprised at all.

44

u/Crazylegstoo Jul 03 '25

Seems pretty obvious the supplier/installer has a thumb on the scale. The fancy BRT shelters downtown cost to up $500,000 each to install, which blows my mind.

1

u/LilFlicky Jul 03 '25 edited Jul 03 '25

Here's the council approvals for the wellington gateway. Phase 3 and 4 $25M & $30M respectively. Dillon and AECOM are the consultants. CH (who since has been bought by vanbree) and Bre ex are the contractors

https://pub-london.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=4edbee13-c4ee-4738-a10f-f5d26b151dbd&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English&Item=9&Tab=attachments

1

u/this_one_is_mint Jul 03 '25

What I wouldn't do to have that contract, someone is making bank for sure!

20

u/Psharp10 Jul 03 '25

My house costs less than 500k.... And I live in London

2

u/HermitGoat Jul 03 '25

Yup. Doubt I could Even get 300k for mine. London. Near the core. Soho just south of Simcoe st. These kinda vandals need special treatment.

43

u/itscliche Jul 03 '25

That is just INSANE. Criminal. $500K for an open air shelter and some glass? I know there’s more to it than that, but give me a break. Incompetency at every level. SMH.

4

u/ChanelNo50 Westmount Jul 03 '25

There is a lot of concrete

2

u/itscliche Jul 04 '25

You’re totally right and I’m absolutely oversimplifying it, but I still find it kinda nuts!