Gothamist: Jury is Still Out On New Bus Shelters

Dahlia

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 16:13:13 -0500

i would imagine the reason for the design of the bench is to prevent people from sleeping on it. the new bus stops hit my neighborhood and i think they're quite nice, though from the ones i've seen, there's only room for one route map/timetable, so at stops with multiple bus lines, this is a problem.

Nick

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 15:38:30 -0500

That's exactly one of the reasons why delicate chrome steel and glass street furniture in this town is the concept of idiots and probably people who don't even live here. Whereas cast iron street furniture just gets a patina and better looking with age, is virtually indestructible and impervious to the activities of cretins, and merely requires a coat of paint every few years to keep on tickin'. Not only that but they would last a good 60 years, while as this crap will need replacement after 5, not to mention the cost of replacing the glass every 10 minutes. But as usual, the contract is given to the lowest bidder instead of the smartest idea. Look at the measly little friggin' bench in that thing, enough for 3 people, where it should stretch the width of the shelter. Sorry for all the negativity, but I love New York and sometimes what I see built here revolts me beyond words.

John

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 10:51:39 -0500

Can't wait for the first graffiti marks to show up (ugh)!!! These will look all nice and clean for, like, a minute. You know that these idiots who love to graffiti stuff can't see anything clean for very long. Because you know, they have to put on thier "tag" on everything (which are letters put in such a way where it's impossible to make them out even if you actually gave a rat's behind). Oh well, enjoy them while they last.

andreas

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 22:40:59 -0500

Nick is confusing style and quality. There is plenty of modern design in this city that is wonderful, functional, and humanistic. Conversely, "classic" looking designs often end up looking like cheap imitations of the past. I'll take good modern over cheesy post modern any day. Can't comment on the shelters since I havent stood in one yet, but I do think they look better than the old ones.

Jordan

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 22:28:24 -0500

Nick, I think charm & dignity left town a while ago... Probably with Donald Trump's full, lush head of hair.

Nick

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 20:23:04 -0500

They look like sterile cheesy crap like everything else being built in this city now. I loathe stainless steel and glass. Testament to the vacuity and slavery to the accountants of today's modern "designers" whose influences consist of the TV set. The closer you get to "modern design" the less you get out of it, just like a TV screen. Bus shelters in this city should be designed along the lines of the bishop crook lamposts or other classic cast iron street furniture. Something with a little charm and dignity, not this crapola. The people who designed Battery Park City got it sort of right.

riffola

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 18:25:03 -0500

Here in Rego Park, we've got two of these and on both shelters I've seen multiple wing shaped imprints from birds striking them. Plus I didn't see any digital information about bus arrival or schedule yet.

kevin bracken

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 16:51:01 -0500

They look very similar to the ones we have in Toronto, complete with Viacom ads! They look much nicer and more pleasant to wait in. Hopefully the one pictured above is the "light" version and there are more fully-sheltered boxes in case winter ever comes. If there are, hopefully they will not have the traditional gap between the ground and the bottom of the glass to freeze out the homeless, because it freezes out bus riders too.