QuixoticgeekMar 30

My train journey home starts with another accessibility rant (sorry, I've got an hour on a train and I didn't bring a book). Time to talk about something few think of as an accessibility aid

Benches

Most people take for granted that they can stand for half an hour or an hour to wait for a train. But for a surprisingly high number of people. Standing for even a few minutes can be agony. These people might not look like they need accessibility aids. But not being able to sit can be a problem
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Show threadQuixoticgeekMar 30
As part of the ongoing enshittification of the built environment, benches have been disappearing. This is because people moan that the benches get used, by homeless people who use them to lay down on. Or youths who hang out on them. The former is often countered by seat designs that stop a person laying down. It's called hostile architecture. People put effort into making homeless people uncomfortable. Rather than solving homelessness. Which is something that's really easy to solve.
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Show threadJules she/herMar 30
@quixoticgeek there was a good post on here somewhere about how hostile architecture is the opposite of the kerb cut effect. Just like kerb cuts for wheelchairs also help people with bikes, prams, suitcases, in the way accessibility measures help people beyond those who they're initially aimed at, hostile architecture targeted at unhoused people makes life harder for everyone beyond its designated targets.
Show threadJules she/herMar 30

@quixoticgeek (yes I am still pissed off about my cake)

https://social.coop/@afewbugs/115910584401842999

Show threadAlex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UK
@afewbugs @quixoticgeek they started with this stuff in UK (or at least London and SE England) even before there was a large amount of homeless folk around when I was a teen (thats /over 30 years ago/)
Mar 30 at 6:35pmWeb
Show threadMJ RayMar 30
@vfrmedia @afewbugs @quixoticgeek ah, the UK, where Norfolk CoCo is still installing new areas of ankle-breaker paving near hospitals in futile attempts to make people walk on the pavement not the obvious desire line