Vandalism in public transport can best be addressed by creating an appealing environment. “Passengers are then encouraged to respect public transport,” says designer Axel Enthoven, co-founder of Yellow Window, which designed the new Brussels metro trains and trams with an art nouveau look.
According to Enthoven, too much emphasis is placed on the cost of stylish materials. When you add up all the costs to repair cheap materials, the amount is often higher than the investment in high-quality ones. Leather, for example, is much more hygienic and easier to maintain; wipe it with a damp cloth and it’s dry within ten minutes. With fabric upholstery, it takes 24 hours for the moisture to disappear.
Axel Enthoven stresses that vehicles and stop infrastructure must be repaired as quickly as possible to prevent the problem from getting worse. Bus shelters, for instance, should be designed so they can be installed quickly, partly dismantled, and repaired with ease.
Lighting inside vehicles also plays a role, with indirect lighting being preferred as direct light causes flickering that can cause passengers to have motion-sickness. Direct lighting should therefore be limited to what is necessary. Furthermore, it is best not to place seats opposite of each other, as this can create social tension.
Clear and readable information boards that announce the next stop well in advance are also important, so passengers can move to the doors in time. For safety reasons, the driver’s cab can be shielded with transparent polycarbonate panels. You can also opt for a somewhat maneuverable driver’s seat, so that the driver can make eye contact with boarding passengers.
“Basically, we should design things that passengers like, that they don’t want to damage. This can be achieved by choosing quality materials and creating beautiful vehicles and infrastructure,” says Axel Enthoven.