Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Buses

Eyes on the Street: Find the Bus Benches

9:45 AM PST on January 18, 2012

These new mental benches began appearing late last year. In some cases they are replacing the old plastic benches, and in other cases are coming to stops that have had no benches at all. Photo: ##http://www.flickr.com/photos/39569101@N07/##L.A. Urban Soul/Flickr##

At the end of last year, the emails started trickling in.  "There's a new bench at my stop."  "They replaced the crappy plastic bench with something more durable.  Yes, after months of witnessing the dismantleing of the old network of bus benches after the City Council voted to replace their old bench contractor Norman Bench with Martin Outdoor Media.

As before, the benches will be installed by Martin Outdoor Media who will take care of the upkeep of the benches.  Instead of being paid by the city, Martin Outdoor Media makes their money off the advertisements on the benches themselves and pays the city for the right to put the benches down.  At least, that's how it's supposed to work.

Under Norman Bench, many of the most popular bus stops didn't have benches because they were in lower income areas that attracted fewer advertising dollars.

"6,000 new benches will be installed, which include benches that are replacing the older, existing plastic benches and new benches at bus stops that currently do not have any bus patron amenities," Paul Gomez, a spokesman with the Department of Public Works, writes.  "All replacement and new benches, are to be installed over a 24 month period that started in Oct. 2011."

When new Sharrows are painted, or new safety signs are put up, Streetsblog asks you to tell us when and where you see them.  There's no reason we can't do the same for bus benches.  If you see a new bench or shelter being put up, please let us know in the comments section.  If you can get a good picture, email them to damien at streetsblog dot org.

Martin Outdoor Media's contract with the city runs for ten years from October 2011 to October 2021.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Rundown of New Federal Reconnecting Communities Grants for L.A. County

There are seven L.A. County Reconnecting Communities grants totaling $162 million - about 90% of that goes to Metro's Removing Barriers project, which includes new bus lanes, first/last mile walk/bike facilities, bike-share, and more.

March 19, 2024

Where L.A. City Will Add New Bus-Only Lanes

New bus lanes are coming to Broadway, Colorado Blvd., Crenshaw Blvd, Lincoln Blvd., Los Feliz Blvd., Santa Monica Blvd., Valley Blvd., Vermont Avenue, Westwood Blvd., Whittier Blvd. and many more city streets!

March 15, 2024
See all posts