Calgary Transit announced its plan to install more vandalism-proof models, but resident concerns persist around what this form of delinquency means for the safety of their neighbourhood. 

By 2026, Calgary Transit (CT) told LWC in an email statement that they have set a goal for 30 per cent of their total number of glass-based shelters to be replaced with acrylic panels. 

“These shelters were tested in a pilot project and proved to be significantly more resistant to impact damage,” read the statement. 

CT said that the glass structures situated at bus stops with a high vandalism rate are currently being relocated to low-incidence locations. They said that anti-vandalism models are being established in place of the original structures.   

“We will be monitoring their performance and may procure more in future if the ones we install over this year and next perform well,” read the email statement. 

For all of 2024, CT said that they recorded a total of 1,192 incidents of bus shelter vandalism. So far this year, that number sits at 563 as of Aug. 22.

Though the 2025 sum is not exactly on track to match last year’s, one Calgarian said that the pattern he has witnessed in his neighbourhood tells a different story.

Sherwood shelter smashings on visual uptick

Two years ago, when Caleb Goodwin and his family settled in the northwest community of Sherwood, he said that it was rare to see a broken bus shelter. Over the summer, however, he said that it’s become a run-of-the-mill sight.

“The ground is often covered with shattered glass, which can be dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists, and even vehicle tires,” said Goodwin.

“I had never seen this kind of damage before.”

Sometimes, in the span of a day, he said that he’s passed by two damaged shelters in his area. Living just adjacent to the city quadrant that often sees ravaging storms, Goodwin said that Mother Nature is also a shelter-smashing culprit at times.

“It reduces the safety and comfort for residents waiting for buses,” he said.

“Especially in recent weeks when the NW weather has been changing so quickly, with frequent showers, heavy rain, and strong winds.”

The elements aside, Goodwin said that he is primarily concerned with the people choosing to destroy the shelters, and what it could mean for his neighbourhood.

Safety risks extend beyond the shards themselves, resident says

“Such scenes create a sense of insecurity among residents,” said Goodwin. 

“Who is doing this? Why? Could something else happen afterward?”

He explained his deductive reasoning as being that if someone is capable of destroying transit infrastructure, then there may be little stopping them from doing the same to houses. He said that this “aggressive behaviour” could shift to target pedestrians, too.

“I do worry about the potential damage to residential properties, since I really don’t know what kind of state those people are in when they break the bus shelter glass in broad daylight,” said Goodwin. 

“Especially near schools, with the new term starting soon, if such things continue to happen, it could pose a danger to the children.”

He commended Calgary Transit’s efforts in introducing more durable materials, but said that he feels that damaged bus shelters could be repaired faster to reduce potential harm.

According to CT, vandalism incidents are collected via calls to 311. From here, requests are generated and sent to their shelter provider, who is solely responsible for remediating the damage.

CT said that on average, fragmented glass is cleaned up in about a day, and the shelters are replaced in around three days, depending on order availability. 

“The shelter provider sends a crew to clean up the broken glass and replace the damaged panels,” read the statement. 

“Shelter repairs are prioritized by safety.”

With risk to residents at the top of mind, Goodwin said that, in addition to vandalism-proofing and quickening repair pace, identifying the perpetrators is essential to ensuring that the rate of damaged models continues to decline. 

“I also hope we can learn who is causing the damage, what their thoughts are, or whether they need help,” he said.

“That might address the problem at its root and offer a more compassionate, human-centred solution.”