Article: 'Bum bars' trialled at Moreton Bay bus stops

[ozbob]

From the Sunday Mail click here!

'Bum bars' trialled at Moreton Bay bus stops

'Bum bars' trialled at Moreton Bay bus stops
Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

Kelmeny Fraser

February 14, 2010 12:00am

WAITING for a bus is about to become a lot more uncomfortable, with "bum bars" tipped to become a common sight across Queensland after trials north of Brisbane.

Looking more like a rail to hitch a horse to, the controversial pole-style seating is on trial in bus shelters north of Brisbane.

It is touted as a design option that is not only cheaper, but less likely to be a target for vandals and vagrants.

Pipe seating is widely used in European bus shelters and in public areas to prevent vandalism and deter homeless people by making it impossible for them to lie down.

Tokyo is one of the leaders in what has been coined "disciplinary architecture", with anti-homeless benches featuring central arm rests and angled seat bases designed to be uncomfortable.

They were introduced after complaints about growing numbers of homeless people in public parks.

Similar public seating has sparked angry cries from commuters in Britain.

But Moreton Bay councillor David Dwyer, who is behind the trial, said he had so far received a positive reaction.

He decided to replace seating with the metal pipe perches at two Petrie bus shelters after seeing them in Europe.

Cr Dwyer believed the bus shelter model would sweep the southeast once people realised the advantages.

"I believe it will end up being everywhere," he said.

Queensland Rail has more than 70 "resting rails" on platforms too narrow to install benches. But a spokesman said they were not intended to replace seating.

Padded "bum cushions" have also been used in the aisles of new "super buses" in Brisbane.

Cr Dwyer predicted the Petrie pipe seats, modelled on his own proportions, would become common.

"Senior people tell me they have trouble sitting down in the seat and then, when the bus comes, getting out of the seat," Cr Dwyer said.

"It is cheaper just to put a pipe in there (and) it takes up less room."

Deterring homeless people from sleeping in bus shelters was also a factor, he said.

"They have to sleep somewhere but it makes it unsafe for other users."

Fortitude Valley homeless support service 139 Club senior welfare worker Sandy Widderick said the design was a shock.

"I think it is disgraceful for the people catching the bus and it would make it hard for homeless as well," Ms Widderick said.

"Aren't their lives hard enough already?"

Some residents labelled the pipe seating "silly".

Petrie commuter Cheree Wilson said: "Personally it does not worry me but I just think of the elderly people."

Petrie's Mt Maria College student Harrison Beck, 12, said it was "OK, but a bit uncomfortable".

Petrie's Graham Robinson said elderly passengers and those juggling groceries and children would suffer.

"If this councillor had to catch a bus to work instead of a sponsored car I think he would want this changed," he said.

[Emmie]

How very mean spirited!  Sounds like a cost saver to me, I haven't seen many homeless people using bus shelters in SEQ anyway.

[longboi]

This news is only about five years old.

I think they're fine, its not a social club - its a bus stop!

[MaxHeadway]

Of course, if buses were as frequent as they are in Europe, people wouldn't have to spend too much time sitting on those bars anyway!

At least that's better than just ripping out the seats altogether, à la Seattle.

[#Metro]

Yet another reason why NOT to catch public transport. 
They are more worried about homeless people than the effect it will have in making public transport even more uncomfortable.
First you can't get a seat on the bus/train, now they take away the seat at the bus stop too!

Symbolises everything wrong with the management of public transport...

[dwb]

I actually prefer to stand/lean often at a crowded bus stop, I think it's a good idea bc this makes it easier to lean.

[beauyboy]

What a lie "there doing it because of homeless people"  . You get around that by putting in extra hand rests so the each seated section is less than 4 feet.

While I don't mind the leaning rails that QR installed, a pole that is basiclly should be in a water fun park forget it.

Donald

[ozbob]

The 'bum' bars at rail stations have seats adjacent as well.  The difficulty for bus patrons is there are no seats available where they have these by the look of things.  This makes it difficult for some passengers.

This is interesting -->
Public Benches Turn 'Anti-Homeless'