This past week, the MTA installed leaning bars (aka, butt rails or butt shelves) at the eastbound M8 stop on St. Mark's Place at Second Avenue (
above) and the westbound M8 stop on Ninth Street at First Avenue (
photo below by Steven) ...
As noted before, depending on your height, the lean machines aren't super comfy. In addition, advocates have criticized the bars for making MTA bus and subway stops less accessible to segments of the population, including people with disabilities.
However, the MTA says these booty bars cost about $450, compared to over $4,000 for a traditional wooden bench.
This past November, City Hall committed $40 million to putting seating or rear rails at every eligible bus stop in NYC — some 8,750 without a place to sit or lean.
The rollout will
reportedly take up to 10 years, with 875 stops updated annually.
Let us know if you have seen more of the new "I'm not sitting" bars around... some stops have had them for years.
19 comments:
Complete waste of money. Just put a bench.
As a septuagenarian well on my way to octogenarian with some mobility issues, I've been asking for more benches along the M8 bus route (both east and west) for ages. I guess this is my answer.
Why the $4500 quote for a "wooden" bench. The current benches are that metal 3-seater model like the one near Whiskers on 9th St.
And while were talking about bus routes, I noticed the tree near the bus bench @ 3rd Ave. @ 10th St. (near Korean grocery) suddenly disappeared and the the tree near the bus shelter on 2nd Ave.@ St Marks (by Library) also disappeared. How do you find out why?
Abslutely ridiculous, it's right in the middle of the sidewalk on a main strip of St Marks. I HATE this DOT. Gone crazy since the pandemic.
It's not in the middle. The sidewalk there is that tight right now as two hats/scarves/sun glasses stalls on the sidewalk were removed and the sidewalk around the corner building is being replaced. They've been at it since last year. When the plywood barrier comes down it will be better.
Anything to deter homeless from sleeping there, while vastly inconveniencing everyone else!
this is such a waste of our money. they should have at least made them easily removable so someone can sell them for scrap metal. these will be just another thing to write graffiti on. no one is going to use them
Instead of detering the homeless. Address the homeless problem. So much money is wasted on avoiding issues when it can be spent address the issues.
I first saw these butt rails installed in subway stations, and my first thought was, "What kind of joke is this?" I get that it prevents anyone from stretching out and taking a snooze, but it's truly mean-spirited to those of us who might actually need something to lean on while waiting for the bus.
"However, the MTA says these booty bars cost about $450, compared to over $4,000 for a traditional wooden bench."
Maybe, but how long has it been since they've installed a wooden bench? They've been putting in those minimalist metal things for some time. What do *those* cost? And how much does it cost *us* to make it that much harder for seniors and the disabled to get around town?
What a total waste of money. THIS is what taxpayer money is being spent on?
I remember in santa cruz, the city council made it against the law to lean, in addition to sitting on the planters, after the earthquake. Now we have leaning rails.
I see these sprouting everywhere, until, until, until....
I don't know...it might be nice to have something to lean on while waiting for the bus on a tiresome city day...
Waste of money
Hostile architecture 'r US. The MTA is so feckless they put out asinine comment about wooden benches costing $4500. When was the last time there was a wooden bench put on a sidewalk? If it costs them, with labor, $4500 per bench installation they are more corrupt then we already thought. Quality of life issues for the proletariat that take that buses are of no concern to the executives of the MTA.
They've got leaning rails all over the subways in Japan and they're nice. Takes up less space / maintenance than a full bench, and better than nothing. Big improvement.
Hate to be a stickler but the M9 does not run on First Ave
How tall does the butt have to be? Im 5-9 and if im uncomfortable im suing for discrimination
What about the elderly that have problems standing that problem led problems leaning is not going to help.I tried it and it's not helping to lean on the so cold benches. I have to sit down.\n Can't stand on my feet for long. Have to sit down serious back problems.
Lean is the best medicine
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