La Sombrita

This is the Sombrita featured in the LADOT press conference. In the early morning hours (left), it is unable to cast an effective shadow, so passengers instead wait in the shade of privately owned trees. In the afternoon (right), the Sombrita is able to cast shade effectively, providing shade to a passenger waiting for the bus.

La Sombrita (Spanish for "The Little Shade") is a prototype sunshade created for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT). Its purpose was to assist female bus riders by offering shade during the hottest hours of the day and providing sidewalk lighting at night. This was especially targeted at locations where the swift construction of traditional bus shelters would be impractical or expensive. The unveiling of La Sombrita took place at a press conference on May 18, 2023, at the 3rd St/Union Ave bus stop in Westlake. Initially, Las Sombritas were installed at four DASH bus stops across the city.

The concept of La Sombrita originated from the supposed need to address gender equity within LADOT's operations. It was introduced as part of their Gender Equity Action Plan, an initiative stemming from the findings of the 2021 study called "Changing Lanes." This study's final report highlighted that the transportation system in Los Angeles seemed to cater to adult male commuters, despite the majority of riders being women. To tackle this issue, LADOT launched the "Next Stop" action plan, aiming to implement policy recommendations across various aspects of the department's functions.

The response from the public towards La Sombrita was immediate and almost universely negative. Many individuals criticized its design and the decision to prioritize cost-effective installations over more substantial reform. Criticism came from across the political spectrum. On the left, some accused the Los Angeles government of systemic apathy and neglect towards public transit and its users, while right-wing critics utilized it to exemplify bureaucratic inefficiencies within LADOT, often attributing these issues to excessive regulation in a city governed by Democrats.

In response to the public outcry, some advocates for public transportation came to the defense of La Sombrita, highlighting that the project was not funded by public money and was not intended to be a permanent solution to the lack of shelters at bus stops in Los Angeles. Instead, it was conceived as a creative response to a specific problem – providing a solution for narrow sidewalks where traditional bus shelters could not be accommodated. These defenders emphasized that La Sombrita is a pilot initiative, and its design will evolve based on user feedback. LADOT also defended the project, clarifying that its purpose was not to replace bus shelters or streetlights but to offer an affordable and interim fix in areas where permanent solutions were not immediately feasible.