SacRT has placed vehicle wraps on nearly all of its light rail vehicles, and some buses. Full vehicle wraps, which cover the windows, are a constant complaint from riders to the transit advocacy organizations, including STAR.

The wraps, when they cover windows, prevent potential riders from feeling comfortable about getting on buses and trains. They prevent people on the buses and trains from an unobstructed view out, often resulting in missed stops.

This photos shows a SacRT bus, with a wrap so dark that you will have to look closely to even see there are windows there – under the ‘Save money while saving money’ text. Wraps on buses seem to be less common than they have been in past years, but they are still present on many buses.

In contrast to the buses, nearly all SacRT light rail vehicles have wraps. This is in part for the advertising income, but mostly because the paint on light rail vehicles is deteriorating and the wraps provide a better paint job. In the photo, you can see how much difference there is between windows that are wrapped, and windows that have been replaced, and the wrap is gone. What a difference!

STAR believes that SacRT, and other transit agencies, should cease installing vehicle wraps that obscure visibility into and our of buses and trains. Exiting wraps that cover windows should be removed within one year.

Of course, SacRT is not the worst See the ‘lunchables’ wrap that has shown up in a number of cities, the be-all and end-all of inappropriate vehicle wraps.

• SacRT