The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) has installed "leaning benches" at several busy bus stops in downtown Kansas City, replacing traditional seating that was removed in 2023. The change came after requests from developers and the Kansas City Police Department.
The new benches are narrow, curved metal structures designed for people to lean against rather than sit. They have been placed at three locations: 12th Street and Grand Boulevard, 11th and Grand, and the East Village Transit Center.
While KCATA promotes these leaning benches as an accessible amenity, some riders and transportation experts disagree with this assessment. Stephanie DiPetrillo, a senior research project manager for the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University in New Jersey, studies transportation accessibility nationwide.
“Leaning benches may technically meet ADA requirements, but they aren’t usable for many people — including disabled people, older adults, pregnant people, children, and those recovering from injury,” DiPetrillo said. “In trying to prevent unhoused people from sleeping or lingering, we’ve created a new barrier for those who may need a place to rest the most.”
DiPetrillo added that installing such infrastructure could discourage ridership on public transit if it does not meet the needs of all passengers. She noted that making waiting areas less comfortable could result in fewer people choosing to use buses unless absolutely necessary.
“It seems to me that the goal here is to say we’ve provided seating, but also satisfy whatever powers that be that are like, ‘Make it so that people can’t lie down, can’t linger,’” DiPetrillo said. “The people who are riding the bus are probably not the people who are being served by making these decisions.”
This issue reflects a broader national debate about public space design and accessibility standards.
