New bus stop benches in dangerous places too close to traffic

When the benches and trash cans were installed at bus stops some time ago along Manatee Avenue, I was pleased to see how well they were designed and that they were placed a discreet and safe distance from the edge of the roadway.

However, that pleasure turned to disdain when the ugly, dumpy advertising benches began to show up in close proximity to not only the bus stop signs, but also the road itself. Why?

Certainly, they are not meant for sitting. If people sit on the benches, they will obscure the advertising and put their wellbeing in jeopardy sitting only a few feet away from traffic going by at 45 mph.

What were Bradenton's traffic engineers thinking that they would allow the benches to be placed so close to the road's edge and be angled to face the oncoming vehicles, creating a potential hazard and visual distraction to the drivers passing by. The benches are an accident waiting to happen, not to mention the subsequent lawsuits.

Please, Bradenton, rethink and remove these offending benches and return the bus stop elegance and commitment to safety the original bench configuration epitomized.

Sue Lynn

Anna Maria

This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "New bus stop benches in dangerous places too close to traffic ."