The city of Richmond is creating a policy that will allow members of the public to apply for permits to install homemade bus stop benches, according to a press release issued Friday by the Transbay Coalition.
The policy, co-sponsored by Richmond City Council member Jamelia Brown and Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda at Tuesday’s council meeting, is described as the first in the region and likely the state. It was spurred by the work of a group that has been helping the public covertly install benches throughout the Bay Area.
SF Bay Area Bench Collective says it has installed benches at more than 70 bus stops, including several in Richmond along Cutting Boulevard and Macdonald Avenue, according to a map on its site.
The permit process will allow Richmond to ensure that the benches, which are built and installed by volunteers, meet city standards and are accessible to people with disabilities.
“We’re looking forward to being able to work with more groups, nonprofits, houses of worship, schools, and others to get more benches out, while also working with the city to make sure the benches are reliable and built to the highest standards,” said collective founder Mingwei Samuel in a statement.
An estimated 300 Richmond bus stops have no benches, according to the collective, while others only have narrow, backless flip-up seats designed to discourage people from sleeping on them.
“(This) means that people, including seniors and people with disabilities, are left standing in the sun while they wait,” said Carter Lavin of Transbay Coalition, a Bay Area advocacy group that helped with the legalization effort.
By legalizing the process, benches can be built and installed in the open — as opposed to under the cover of night — and volunteers and donors could be publicly recruited. All told, it’s expected to result in a “significant” increase in bus stop bench installations in Richmond, which can lead to an increase in ridership, according a presentation supporters gave to the city council on Tuesday.
Brown said in a statement that the policy creates a legal path for community groups to solve a problem.
“We matched that grassroots commitment with government action — creating a legal pathway that supports, not punishes, community care. This is what responsive, people-powered policymaking looks like, and I’m proud Richmond is leading the way,” Brown said.
AC Transit at-large board member H. E. Christian Peeples said he recognizes that AC Transit doesn’t have the resources to install benches at every bus stop.
“However, community efforts must align with established safety standards —particularly ADA requirements. That’s why the City of Richmond’s recent decision to establish clear guidelines for community-led transit improvements is both timely and essential,” he said in a statement.
Those who request a bench from the collective are guided through the building and installation process (it costs about $100, not including tools) and are encouraged to “adopt” their bench, meaning they commit to checking it at least once weekly for trash, safety issues or damage such as graffiti, which they would cover up with paint.
In related news: AC Transit on Wednesday finished accepting public comments for its proposed transit improvement project along Macdonald Avenue between Richmond Parkway and San Pablo Avenue and along Cutting Boulevard between Interstate 580 and the El Cerrito del Norte BART Station.
Improvements will focus on safety and accessibility for bus riders and drivers and include signal upgrades, bus stop relocations, curb extensions for bus stops and the installation of 17 new bus shelters and seven new benches.
