Art students turn bus shelter into 'SkyTrain car' to prove a point

You may have seen it while you were waiting for the 99 B-Line on the weekend. A group of students from CityStudio turned a bus shelter at Broadway and Willow into a replica of a SkyTrain car.

With the transit plebiscite deadline approaching this Friday, they wanted to show commuters what a “yes” vote could look like – in this case, a subway line stretching the length of the Broadway corridor.

“We have enough people talking about why we need better transit,” says Chiyi Tam, project lead at CityStudio.

“It’s time to provide a compelling experience and make people feel something, offering tangible reasoning into the debate.”

The art installation included adhesive vinyl stuck to the glass to give the outward appearance of a SkyTrain car, slip covers on the benches to resemble the seats, and even an interactive feature that mimics the sound of the closing door bell.

“Engaging the community is so important to the work we do. Once again, the students at CityStudio have put together a fun and interactive installation that raises awareness and actively engages people in their daily lives,” says Christ Robertson, planner at the City of Vancouver.

“This interesting and highly accessibly project draws attention to the future of transportation and transit in our region and is exactly what’s needed to inspire voters to participate in the plebiscite.”