The World's Most Obvious Bus Stop Is Pure Design Genius {Baltimore)

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2014/08/08/bus_by_spanish_artist_collective_mmmm_is_the_world_s_most_obvious_bus_stop.html

The bus stop is built like a conventional street bench, with wood planks screwed to a steel structure that supports weight and prevents vandalism. Refreshingly, nowhere in the bus stop concept does there appear to be the kind of defensive architecture that is designed to keep people from loitering in a way that makes everyone less comfortable.
What’s more, said the designers, it’s “a bus stop you will never miss.”

sculpture is made from wood and steel, conceived like oversized pieces of urban furniture. Each letter is big enough to accommodate two to four people. The B can protect them from the elements, and the curve of the S invites passengers to lie back while they wait.

[pipoman]

1. Genius?

It is artistic, it's functionality seems pretty limited and a lot of unusable space

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. Looks from the curves like it can only accommodate 3 people at a time

But visually, it is awesome.

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. two people climb up and sit on the top level of the 'B'?

[cherokeeprogressive]

9. And sue the city, the Transit Authority, the designer, and builder when they fall off...

Trying to get down when the bus comes around the corner.

[progressoid]

5. And not sure how it prevents vandalism either.

But cool none the less.

[Cha]

10. Yeah, that struck me right away.. since I've been known to take a bus

or two. But, like you say visually awesome, Ruby.. but, not very practical.

Actually, the more I look at it and think about it.. it seems kind of absurd and not created by anyone who's ever had to wait at a bus stop with more than 3 people.

[Iggo]

3. Where're five people gonna stand when it's raining?

It is purdy, though.

[Enrique]

12. under the theater marquee

which is just steps away.

[Iggo]

17. Genius!

[Dreamer Tatum]

6. That just might be the worst, dumbest design I've ever seen. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

8. i liked it then i saw all the web criticism

[Blue Owl]

15. Some of it may be unfare criticism...

So we won't throw you under the bus for liking it!

[snooper2]

23. they say anti-vandalism, LOL, that is a PERFECT target for graffiti

Oh, and it's a little harder to get spray paint off wood than concrete

[Codeine]

7. "Design genius"? I don't fucking think so.

All form with very little function, lots of utterly wasted material and space, and teeth-grittingly cutesy.

[OregonBlue]

11. It's fun. Totally impractical but fun.

[GeorgeGist]

13. All form ...little function.

[elehhhhna]

14. unless it's in the desert it'spretty much a fail

[Liberal_in_LA]

20. in desert, cover from the sun needed

[dickthegrouch]

16. And it's not Wheelchair accessible /nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

19. wheelchair would have to park next to the "B"

[dickthegrouch]

22. And get wet if it's raining /nt

[RufusTFirefly]

18. Wonderful as public art. But as a functional bus stop? Meh! n/t

[LeftyMom]

21. That is the least practical thing I've seen in a long while.

Can you imagine some older person trying to sit down and wait for a bus on that thing?

Not to mention that it's going to be a splintery greying eyesore in no time, considering the weather.

[Retrograde]

24. On the one hand, it looks nice. On the other hand

it takes up a lot more space and is probably more expensive that traditional bus shelters.

San Francisco recently changed its shelters from the traditional plexiglass box to ones with a bold, red, wave-shaped roof (which is great at catching tree leaves and branches), with limited seating and a (usually accurate) electronic sign indicating how long until the next bus. Not all stops have these, though: some of them are just some paint stenciled on a convenient pole. My favorite, though, are the gold chairs along the N-Judah line: a few years ago, someone took a bunch of old chairs, painted them gold, and put them up by the stop.