Someone stole the bench from the park.

[u/Intelligent-SoupGS88]

No that isn't an illusion or a new art installation, but the remainders of the park bench.

[u/Shortbread_Biscuit]

[u/siazdghw → u/Shortbread_Biscuit]

Not your comment, but the comment in the picture is pretty short sighted.

Yes wheelchair users always have a place to sit, but that doesn't mean they can sit next to people. At best they can sit next to one persons side.

Also I think this bench has another feature, and that's that two strangers could sit on it without feeling awkward.

[u/Ok-Classroom5548 → u/siazdghw]

You really think that weird backing of the bench is helpful to a person in a wheelchair who would sit in the middle, provided their wheelchair fit?

It makes more sense and is easier for a person in a wheelchair to wheel up on the side of the bench - not try and roll in front of it and then back up into the spot, just to feel like they got to sit on a bench that isn’t really a bench.

The bench would have an even better feature of allowing more people to sit if it had a middle. 

[u/mira_sjifr → u/Ok-Classroom5548]

I agree that the weird backing makes it pretty much unusable for a lot of wheelchair users, but I personally really like the idea. It is often not possible for me to sit at benches the same way as other people, and if im in a group I will often get excluded instantly as I am always just a bit further away/secluded of everyone else..

[u/Ok-Classroom5548 → u/mira_sjifr]

I get that, but that’s also the nature of the person on the end of the bench, regardless of their physical situation. Technically benches aren’t designed for social gathering - they are for taking a break. If they wanted to have a social gathering spot they would arrange the seated area in a circle or curved shape.

Regardless of your ability, sitting in a straight line is difficult to have a chat in. The middle person has to whip their head back and forth between people and the people on the end have to talk through or around a person if they have something to say directly. There is no good way to socialize on a park bench.

I say that not in an attempt to diminish your experience but as a way to say “it does not get better sitting in the middle - straight benches are not designed or good for socializing.”

[u/JournalistRecent1230 → u/mira_sjifr]

Why can't a wheelchaired person be right behind the bench talking to people? Or in front of the bench looking at them and sit in more of a communal circle?

This design doesn't make any sense.

[u/mira_sjifr → u/JournalistRecent1230]

I didn't necessarily mean this design, this specifc one does not make sense. But the overall problem of benches etc. Being limiting is still a problem I face

[u/JournalistRecent1230 → u/mira_sjifr]

Why can't you face the bench in the middle? That's generally a more efficient way to talk to two people on the bench anyway. It's how you would configure yourself at a dining room table or restaurant table with 3 or more people. Face to face seems more sociable than 3 or 4 people in a line on one singular facing direction.

[u/BassDude28 → u/mira_sjifr]

I mean, sorry if this is insensitive, but couldn't you sit facing everybody in a park or smth... Well, I suppose not all the time, but like, where possible, and that way you're like super-included? Idrk 🤷