The train station in Eugene, is a popular spot. There are always travelers or a population that is hoping to travel outside of it. And because it is a place where a lot of people pass by there is an image that the city of Eugene im sure wants to keep up to standard. As you pass the station in the train or stop and get off in Eugene, you don’t want to see the homeless sleeping on the benches. The city’s solution to that was to place benches with an arm rest that is in the middle of the bench, that way no one can lie down on it, and be a part of the image that they want to avoid.
here is a diagram of how the addition of that third arm rest really influences the possibility of its use.
I like that you brought up the popularity in this location for both everyday and passing-by/visiting in Eugene. This hostile design decision of implementing benches with metal armrests at a popular location is very closely related to the ‘image of Eugene’ that is promoted. The location plays a very big factor in these benches showing the city’s efforts to uphold a standard and attempting to make the homelessness issue invisible.
I like that you connected this hostile design to the overall high foot traffic of the train station. This design of the bench is clearly hostile and limits people’s ability to utilize the bench and/or sleep.
I think it’s interesting how much thought is put into the image of the city when it comes to furniture choices. These benches don’t allow for sleeping, but they also aren’t the most comfortable making people not want to sit in them for long periods of time.
I appreciate you noticing the fact that the city is trying to keep a certain image by reducing the amount of homeless revolving around public transit. I believe this is also the city trying to retain profit from public transportation and recognizing that this mode of travel would not be appealing if train stops were to appear as being dangerous to the public.
I like how you addressed the underlying goal of much of hostile design in Eugene; trying to maintain a certain image of Eugene. I think many of us would do the same thing if we were in the Eugene’s shoes. I also think that one of the alternate goals of having the armrest in the middle is to allow for two strangers to use the bench with less discomfort.