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“These Public Benches Are Reversible”: 50 Of The Coolest Features People Have Seen In Cities
People have proven time and again that they can be incredibly innovative when it comes to solving certain inconveniences in life. Or coming up with ideas of how to make their environment more comfortable, be it their homes or entire cities.
The latter is something many public space designers should be applauded for. From solar panel-covered parking lots, providing shade for cars and electricity for people, to bike fixing stations, among other things – there are many ways they have made cities more convenient for their residents. Scroll down to find more examples of great engineering and urban design done right, and feel free to share in the comments what feature in your city you think makes it a better place to live.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
These Lines Go Up The Wall So You Can Park Perfectly In Between The Lines
RELATED:
#2
This Car Park Has Been Converted Into A Solar Energy Farm Giving Shade And Cover Below
Regina Holt 9 months ago
I've wondered why this isn't done. Nice to see it is being done somewhere.
#3
My City Protects New Trees With Guards Painted To Like Carrots
Most people want to live in a comfortable environment; one that is functional, safe, and, preferably, not an eyesore. That’s why we spend large chunks of our paychecks on comfy furniture, different appliances, and sometimes all sorts of knicknacks that have the power to turn a house into a home.
Bearing in mind that people want their homes to be comfortable, it’s no surprise that they might want their cities to be, too. And while that means different things to different people, this list shows that there are plenty of innovative ways to make cities more convenient for their residents (and visitors alike).
#4
In The UK, Redundant Telephone Boxes Are Being Repurposed As Public Defibrillators
#5
Someone Chopped Down A Tall Tree To Get A Better View Of Sydney Harbour So The Put Up A Tall Sign Where It Once Was To Block The View
"Tree vandalism has occurred in this area
The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust protects and manages this land for the enjoyment of the public.
Acts of vandalism like this deprive all of us of the natural environment.
Please report any suspicious activities to 8969 2100.
Offenders may be subject to fines and/or prosecution."
Making cities a nice place for people to live is a responsibility that usually falls into the hands of urban design experts. On a daily basis, they are presented with the unique challenge of creating spaces that fit the needs of a certain community, both visually and functionally.
According to Washington State’s Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC), urban design addresses the functional and aesthetic qualities of the physical environment by combining the practices of architecture, planning, and landscape architecture; and mastering all three is not an easy task to conquer.
Though, clearly, some urban design experts and other people responsible for the execution of creative and innovative solutions in cities have conquered their tasks with flying colors, as we can see here.
#6
Traffic Light With Shining Pole
#7
This Park Has A Swing For Wheelchair Users
#8
A Bench Designed For Homeless People So They Can Sleep On It
According to the MRSC, people care about the look, the feel, and the livability of their communities, which becomes increasingly important bearing in mind the number of people residing in cities.
Statistics presented by the United Nations (UN) suggest that more than half of the global population currently lives in urban areas, and the rate is projected to be as high as 70% by the year 2050.
#9
These Public Swing Powered Chargers For Your Phone In A Train Station
Regina Holt 9 months ago
It's a shame there are only 2 of them there, the guy on the right looks like he is waiting for his turn.
#10
This Crack In The Pavement Filled With A Stained Glass Cat Portrait
#11
A Video Surveillance Public Meetup
Kabuki Kitsune 9 months ago
You often see these at police stations, or directly adjacent to them. It's actually a rather good idea, given how often people have been straight up murdered when picking up something they bought off of Craigslist.
For people in cities to be happy, it might not be enough to have a comfortable home or good transportation infrastructure. Green spaces are arguably equally—if not more—important. Though, according to the UN, provision and access to open public spaces remains low across regions, negatively impacting the quality of urban life.
“Public spaces enhance inclusion, social cohesion and the productivity of cities. However, 2020 data from 1,072 cities reveal that more than three-quarters have less than 20 per cent of their area dedicated to open public spaces and streets,” notes the UN’s Statistics Division.
#12
The Park Benches In My City Has Built-In Umbrellas
Fat Harry (Oi / You) 9 months ago
It's a nice idea, but they look so high that unless the rain is completely vertical you're still going to get wet.
#13
UPS In Italy Uses These "Bicycle Trucks" To Deliver Packages To Places In Narrow Streets Of Rome
#14
These Bins In Sweden Show You What To Recycle
Sillywaster Stayalone 9 months ago
Me, who will spend 2 minutes looking for a signboard indicating what waste belongs where
It’s no secret that our environment can significantly influence our well-being, hence the importance of well-thought-out urban areas featuring public spaces and other crucial elements.
A study delving deeper into urban design as a key to healthy environments for all suggests that urban design and transport “have the potential to provide large, long-lasting, and immediate benefits for health, and hence are key to healthy and sustainable urban environments for all.
“If designed with this perspective in mind, urban design and transport policies (along with other interventions) can provide multiple benefits, including: reducing the upward trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions, protecting the environment, fostering equity and intergenerational solidarity, and improving our resilience to future potential pandemics,” the study read in part.
#15
In Vancouver, Trained Raptors (And Handlers) Have Been Hired To Keep Aggressive Seagulls Away From Public Eating Areas
Regina Holt 9 months ago
But I LIKE seeing seagulls snatching food from people. Great pictures to show on Bored Panda.
#16
These Parking Spaces Have Folding Bars That Lock To Keep People From Parking In Their Spots
#17
These Public Benches Are Reversible, So You Can Choose To Look At People, Or Boats
Another study, focused on what people want in a so-called smart city (a city featuring ICT [information and communication technology]-based solutions to tackle urban challenges), found that “far from the image of a highly technological city, the stakeholders envision a city dedicated to improving the quality of life and environmental sustainability.
“Furthermore, to achieve this smart city, the projects need to be based on full transparency and the promotion of social inclusion. In contrast to the dominant trend towards the privatization of urban space, this study finds that the stakeholders prefer public-based smart city projects such as ICT-based public transport services.”
#18
The County Of Maui Has Public Sunscreen So People Use Reef Safe Sunscreen
KittyGaming 9 months ago
Yippee, this is a huge plus bc many sunscreens are not safe for wildlife in the ocean because of chemicals in the sunscreen, it's always best to use animal friendly sunscreens to not (word I cannot say) up the environment even further than it already is :3
#19
Public Air Shower In Tokyo To Blow Pollen Off Hay Fever Sufferers
Regina Holt 9 months ago (edited)
This would make me very Happy. And less Sneezy. Pollen makes me Grumpy. I'd tell my Doc to adjust my allergy medicine, and not be Bashful about it.
#20
Cool Bike Repair Equipment On A Bike Path
Kabuki Kitsune 9 months ago
That would last maybe three days in my city before someone stole all the tools and pawned them off.
Even though nowadays, people—in the US, at least—are reportedly less likely to want to live in cities than they were before the pandemic, millions of people still do. And that is why it’s important to give whoever came up with these innovative solutions a pat on the back and a kind word for a job well done.
#21
This Car Park In France Has Soft Barriers Between Parking Spaces To Stop People Scratching Other Cars
Regina Holt 9 months ago
We need these in the US. We have a$$holes who do not park their cars well.
#22
My City Has Public Defibrillation Stations And The Sign For It Looks Like A Video Game Health Bar
Regina Holt 9 months ago
Wow. This is awesome. I just hope folks read the instructions on proper usage.
#23
Solar Park Bench With USB Charging Ports
#24
Bus Stop In Norway With Books You Can Read While You Wait
#25
This Cross Walk Signal Button Has Signage For Blind People Showing Exactly How Many Lanes They Have To Cross And Direction Of Traffic
#26
A Machine At Heathrow Airport So You Can Refill Your Water Bottle After Security So You Don't Need To Throw It Away
#27
My City Has Pencil Style Bollards Around School Areas
KazzaHazza 9 months ago
In some UK towns, mine included, some schools have bollards in the shape of school children
#28
This Hourglass Shaped Traffic Light
Regina Holt 9 months ago (edited)
If this were certain cities in the USA, folks behind the first car would be honking a split second the hourglass indicator tells that the time is up to turn the light green. Maybe more than a split second.
#29
A Public Cat Food Dispenser
#30
This Mcdonalds Has A "Drive-Thru" For Boats. Located In Hamburg, Germany
#31
In Morocco, Utility Poles Are Disguised As Palm Trees
#32
This Public Ashtray To Discourage Littering
Alice Landers 9 months ago
I am a,smoker and I never NEVER throw my butts anywhere ! If I'm out somewhere I put it back in my 'pack' when finished and throw away when I get home in my garbage. Not every 'smoker' is like that.
#33
My University Has These Little Bridges For Pedestrians When The Streets Start Flooding
#34
My City Added Blue Lights That Turn On When An Emergency Service Vehicle Is Approaching
Sally Moen 9 months ago
My town has this bypass on city lights, so the lights all turn to red except for the emergency vehicle, and a rotating yellow caution light flashes on the corner light pole. Saves lives as the siren sound might not be heard from a distance, also on calls (at night, during certain police calls) that don't use a siren just the emergency lights
#36
On Some Older Streets In Belgium They Use Marble Stones Instead Of Painted Lines For Crosswalks
#37
In Autumn, My City Has A Public Service That Comes By And Sucks Up The Leaves You Rake To The Curb
#38
Trash Bins In Copenhagen Are Angled So Cyclists Can Toss Their Trash While Biking
#39
Lisbon Consists Of 7 Hills. In Order To Make It Easier For Residents And Tourists To Move Between The Different Neighbourhoods, This Open-Air Escalator Was Installed
#40
The Narrowest Street Of Prague
#41
A Public Bike Stand With A Built-In Pump
Danique van der Burg 9 months ago
True, this is near where I live and it used to be broken all the time
#42
In Basel, There's A Model That Allows The Visually Impaired To Experience The Layout Of The City
#43
These Sprinklers On The Road Near The Ski Resort I’m At In Japan To Keep The Road From Freezing Over. (Salt Water If You Were Wondering)
#44
Copenhagen (Denmark) Has These Rails For Cyclists To Lean On At Red Lights
#45
In Belgian Train’s Toilets There Is A Sos Button Close To The Ground In Case People Fall And Can’t Get Up
Serena Myers 9 months ago
That's a bu**er (no, not butter, buffer etc, lol) when I fall, I have arthritis in my left knee and the knee just gives way sometimes. If I can turn myself over and crawl to somewhere where I can pull myself up, fine, if not I have to yell for help. This would be useful!
#46
This Park Bench Created By Just Adding A Back To The Wall
#47
In Rotterdam, The Netherlands, We Have A Traffic Light For Cyclists That Plays A Song When The Light Is Red. The Song It Plays Is The Last Song Played On The Phone Of Someone Who Passed Away Due To A Traffic Accident That Occurred Because He Was Paying Too Much Attention To His Phone
Disgruntled Panda 9 months ago
It is a single traffic light, originally designed as an art project. It pops up in different places to remind people how important it is to pay attention while participating in traffic. The contrast between first hearing upbeat music and then realising it's the playlist of 13 year old Tommy-Boy who died in a traffic accident is to shock people and cause dialog.
#48
Shopping Cart Cleaning Machine In Germany
#49
A Pencil Sharpener On A Bench Handle In A Public Park In Melbourne, Australia
Sally Moen 9 months ago
That's a good quality pencil sharpener. There's a lot of artistic inspiration out in nature that get me frustrated when the pencil I brought has it's point broken
#50
In My City There Are Milk Machines Where You Can Buy Milk In Your Own Container!
Sally Moen 9 months ago
Dairy is very important to some nations When I was a small child, we used to buy glass bottles, half-gallon, from a repurposed gas station that had 2 drive-in windows to sell milk. You could get whole (full-fat), skim (non-fat), and chocolate.
#51
The Town We Vacationed In Has Red Street Lights To Not Mess With The Wildlife
BeKind&Rewind 9 months ago
The amount of light pollution on our plant is just horrible. There's no reason for stores to be lit up all night while closed.
#52
[oc] This Public Onsen Foot Spa In Japan Designed So That Wheelchair Users Can Use It Too
#54
The Boardwalk In Ocean City, New Jersey Has Separate Trash Cans Just For Pizza Boxes
Regina Holt 9 months ago
That makes sense. Pizza boxes in regular trashcans create more empty space amonst the other trash.
#55
A Hands Free Sunscreen Machine That Rotates As It Sprays Your Body With Sunscreen
#56
This Wealthy City In Oregon Offers Free Sparkling Water Filling Stations On Their Sidewalks
#57
There Are Parking Spots For Dogs Outside Of A Supermarket In Finland
#58
This Manhole Cover In Seattle Is A Map Of The City
Sally Moen 9 months ago
I can name the streets in downtown Seattle, starting on Jackson and ending on Pine, as it used to be a common mnemonic phrase to remember them. I've been working on making one for the town I live in now. It's a creative way to remember how many blocks you are away from landmarks
#59
This Stall For Your Dog Outside A Super Market In Copenhagen
Pernille 9 months ago
These are brilliant in the cold danish winter. And before you ask, the dogs are not in there for ages, most city dwelling danes tend to do a quick daily shop instead of a weekly big shop , so they are just popping in to get a few essentials during their dog walk, the dogs might just have been to the park and then get to snooze for ten minutes before going home.
#60
Slides In The Shape Of Elephant Trunks At A Tokyo Park
Huddo's sister 9 months ago (edited)
There is a dragon one in Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne, shaped like a dragon (I hope it's still there, last time I went was in 2013) as well as swings shaped like a giraffe and some other things
#61
This Belgian Supermarket Has A Parking Spot Just For Pregnant Women
#62
One Of The Public Water Supplies In My Town Is Made To Look Like A Normal House
#63
A Few Benches In My City Have Wireless Qi Pads And USB Power Ports On Them
Pieter LeGrande 9 months ago
Feed the seagulls and charge your phone at the same time. Unless the raptor lady walks past and spoils the fun.
#64
In The Florida Keys Some Of The Cities Use Red Lights During Turtle Mating Season So The Baby Turtles Don’t Mistake The Artificial Light For The Moon
#65
There Is A Free Public Cycle Path Through The National Dutch World War II Museum
Pieter LeGrande 9 months ago
Every museum I visited as a kid I wished there was a high-speed lane.
#66
This Park Bench Has WiFi
#67
In Akureyri, Iceland, Red Lights Are Heart Shaped
Regina Holt 9 months ago
That is so cute. I'm wondering if the Irish will see this and then change the green light to shamrocks.
#68
When My City Repaired The Sidewalks They Kept The Rings Previously Used For Tying Horses Up Intact
#69
Giving Extra Space Between Parking Spaces To Help Avoid Slamming Your Car Door Into The Car Next To You
#71
The Water Tower In Ocean City, Maryland Is Painted Like A Giant Beach Ball On A Spout Of Water
#72
This Bike Lane In My City Keeps Score Of How Many People Use It
Sally Moen 9 months ago
That's good as a reminder to those who scoff at the need for bicycle lanes because "they aren't used that much" or "they are always empty". Bicyclists don't get stuck in traffic like cars, so there aren't blocks-long traffic jams of bikes
#74
Adult And Child Sized Toilets In A Single Stall - Auckland International Airport
cerinamroth 9 months ago
Fantastic! If there's a plastic step up to the sink for hand-washing as well, they win!
#75
In Germany We Have "Puke Sinks" In Some Public Places That Have Events Like The Oktoberfest
#76
There's A Public, Solar Powered Smartphone Charging Station In My City
#77
Our City Sets Up Bumpers On Sledding Hills Before Snowfall
Lee Gilliland 9 months ago
Our city set up bollards on the best sledding hill so the kids couldn't use it.
#78
This Traffic Light On The Sidewalk For Pedestrians On Their Phones
AngelWolfe 9 months ago
Think more should be done to discourage people using their phones whilst walking and more encouragement to actually pay attention to their surroundings.
#79
This Building In Chicago Has A Map Of The Surrounding Area With Its Own Location Marked
#80
My Neighbourhood (In Singapore) Has An Umbrella Sharing Project
Molly A. Block 9 months ago
This could never work in America. We'd steal everything. Just like how t & e stole the election, hahaha,
#81
My City Has A Mini Ambulance
Kabuki Kitsune 9 months ago
It's part of the Jacksonville Medical Auxiliary. Basically, a group of volunteers who help out at various events. Most have some level of medical training, but they don't just operate the small ambulance. They also have a number of trained rescue/recovery divers on staff, who help out during search and rescue operations, or recovery operations. This ambulance is primarily used during street festivals. Jacksonville Florida, for those curious.
#82
A Japanese Sidewalk With A Chicane To Slow Down Cyclists (Or Fast Walkers)
Sally Moen 9 months ago
A challenge for cargo bikes or bicycles with trailers, but better than rounding the corner to a head on crash from a speeding bike
#83
Our Local Park Recently Installed A Permanent Corn Hole Set
#84
These Boulders In Amsterdam For Cyclists At Red Lights
#85
This Sidewalk For Smartphone Users In Warsaw, Poland
#86
Saw These Ultra-Minimalist Public Chairs
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