欧美人文风情第365篇:为什么城市充满不舒适的长椅

Why are cities full of uncomfortable benches? 为什么城市充满不舒适的长椅？

This one has armrests to prevent you from dozing 1 off. 这张长椅有扶手，避免你打瞌睡。

Here's another, again with the arms, the stiff metal. And this one, it's brand new. 这是另一张——一样有扶手，硬梆梆的金属。还有这张——这是全新的。

The MTA in New York City began installing them as a part of a subway enhancement plan. 纽约市的大都会运输署开始装设这些长椅作为地铁改善计划的一部分。

And they don't call it a bench. They prefer the term "leaning bars." 他们不叫它长椅，而是比较喜欢叫它“倚靠栏杆”。

So, what if I told you it was designed with discomfort 2 in mind? 那么，如果我告诉你它是故意设计得不舒适，你会怎么想？

New York City is filled with some of the most innovative 3 architecture and urban planning in the world. 纽约市充满一些世界上最创新的建筑和城市规划。

Today, nearly every kind of public space here has been developed with close attention to detail. 如今，这里几乎所有的公共空间都是经过精心设计的。

So these benches are no mistake. 所以，这些长椅不是设计错了。

They're designed to allow you to sit but not get too cozy 4. And that's intentional 5. 它们的设计目的本来就是让你坐下来，但不能太舒适。这是故意的。

The concept stems from a school of thought that goes by many names, but today we'll use "defensive 6 design." 这个概念源于一种学派，它有很多名字，但今天我们用“防御性设计”这个名字。

Defensive design is about moderating behavior. 防御性设计是为了节制行为。

The goal is to limit the ways an object can be misused 7. 目标是限制物品被误用的方式。

These benches have armrests because that will prevent anyone from laying down. 这些长椅有扶手是因为它能避免任何人躺在上面。

Their short back is another nod to say "This bench isn't yours forever." 这种长椅的矮椅背也有另一种意思：“这张长椅不是你专属的”。

This trend is worldwide, and it's not just in the benches. 这是种世界性的趋势，而且不只反映在长椅上。

When you start looking for defensive designs in New York City, you'll find examples everywhere. 如果你开始寻找纽约市的防御性设计，到处都能找到例子。

It's the presence of security cameras in subway turnstiles or in Times Square. 地铁闸门或时代广场上有监视器。

It's these spikes 8 on this column, meant to deter 9 birds. 这些栏柱上尖铁的意图是防止鸟停在上面。

It's the knobs on these ledges 10, made to discourage skateboarders. 还有这些矮平台上的凸起物用来阻碍溜滑板的人。

And there were once sprinklers underneath 11 the awning 12 of this bookstore to prevent people from sleeping there. 这间书店还曾经在遮雨棚下装洒水装置，避免有人睡在那里。

It's sidewalk barriers. It's even these regular streetlights. 还有人行道路障。甚至这些常见的路灯也是。

Yeah, streetlights are probably some of the most recognizable defensive designs. 对，路灯可能是最好辨认的防御性设计。

When they surfaced in 19th-century Western cities, the dynamic of urban life changed. 路灯在十九世纪的西方城市开始出现后，城市生活的型态就变了。

Because of them, more people spent more time outside at night, 因为这些路灯，更多人晚上会在外头溜搭，

which drove economic development and a reduction in crime. 促使经济发展及犯罪率降低。

Most hostile architecture tries to influence behavior in a similar way. 大多数敌意建筑设计都试着用类似的方式影响大家的行为。

The designs attempt to make public space a bit more hospitable 13, more ideal. 这些设计是为了让公共空间更适宜、更理想一点儿。

Defensive designs can deter crime, it can prevent the destruction of public property, and it can prevent loitering. 防御性设计可以遏止犯罪、避免公共财产的破坏、也能避免游荡行为。

But there is a reason why defensive design is characterized as hostile. 但防御性设计被认为有敌意是有原因的。

Take the example of the leaning bar. 以倚靠栏杆为例。

Disability advocates have a problem with that appearing in the MTA. 行动不便支持者对大都会运输署摆出这些栏杆令人反感。

One advocate pointed 14 out that people who travel who have disabilities or just get tired sometimes need a bench to sit on, 一名支持者指出，旅行的人，有些行动不便的人，或有时有点儿累的人，都需要一张长椅坐一下，

and not a wall to lean against. 而不是要一片墙壁靠着。

And while no one likes an uncomfortable bench, 虽然没有人喜欢这种不舒适的长椅，

these additions mean something more for people who are experiencing homelessness. 但这些增设设施对于无家可归的人影响更大。

The United States is currently experiencing a decline in the overall homeless population. 美国目前的整体游民人口有下降趋势。

But in New York City, the number of homeless people is growing. 但在纽约市，游民人口却在增长。

About 1,800 people were found to have been sleeping in the subway. 约有1,800个人睡在地铁里。

That's because emergency shelter isn't always a viable 15 option. 那是因为紧急避难所并不总是可行选择。

There are several examples of hostile architecture that target people who are homeless. 有些敌意建筑设计的例子就是冲着无家可归的人来的。

These designs imply that public space is not where homeless people should be. 这些设计就是在暗示公共空间不是街友该待的地方。

As it goes, city planners have a dilemma 16: How do they design inclusive cities? 发展至今，都市规划师都面临两难：要怎么设计出包容性的城市呢？

As for the enhanced subway initiative, 在改善的地铁新措施方面，

the MTA's mock designs highlight new USB ports and electronic signage in stations. 大都会运输署的模拟设计主打全新USB充电处和车站电子广告牌。

But you won't find any press materials highlighting this uncomfortable bench, excuse me, the leaning bar. 但你不会发现有任何新闻资料会特别提出这种不舒适的长椅——不好意思，我是说倚靠栏杆。

That's because it makes for an uncomfortable discussion about who we design public space for and who gets left out. 因为这会导致令人不舒服的讨论，也就是我们为了谁设计公共空间，以及谁该被屏除在外。