Prague Politician "Renovates" Benches to Deter Homeless People — Public Space Expert Appalled

Renovated benches at the "Sídliště Barrandov" tram stop in Prague's Barrandov district have sparked a wave of criticism on social media. In mid-June, Milan Vrkoč (SEN 21), a deputy and former councillor for Prague 5, repainted the benches, covered their backs with wood-effect film, and installed metal bars designed to stop homeless people from lying down on them.

"What was happening there was absolutely unacceptable to me. That chipboard has been lying around for years — we've only temporarily covered it with film, which is definitely not the final solution, just a quick fix before the holidays," Vrkoč told the outlet.

Social media users were unimpressed with the benches' new look, calling it an ugly and cheap way of dealing with homelessness instead of proper social work.

Public space expert Anna Beata Gáblová believes the state of the benches reflects broader neglect of the surrounding area. "These are exactly the kind of benches that used to serve as advertising space and were then simply abandoned. If the surroundings were tidied up, trees planted, or a couple of swings installed for children, the space would become much more pleasant — and the municipality wouldn't need to worry about the benches turning into beds for homeless people," she notes.

The benches are former advertising structures that were once installed across Prague by the company AD-Net. In 2019, the city terminated its contract with the firm, and City Hall began gradually removing such benches. According to City Hall spokesperson Vít Hofman, all AD-Net benches have been cleared from city-owned land, though some were bought out or are still used by individual districts and organizations.

The disputed benches stand on land belonging to the Prague Public Transit Company (DPP), which, however, says it does not own them and is not responsible for their condition. "The fact that they're on our land doesn't mean they're our property," explained DPP spokesperson Daniel Šabík, adding that Vrkoč never formally contacted the company about the renovation. Prague 5 deputy Jan Panenka (ODS) dismissed the whole affair as nothing more than a publicity stunt by the SEN 21 movement ahead of the elections.

Vrkoč himself insists he has repeatedly raised the issue of the benches' condition with the Prague 5 district's maintenance department, and that his former councillor also contacted DPP about it two years ago. If the benches aren't removed in the coming weeks, he plans to have them fully renovated at his own expense. "In previous years, City Hall removed almost all of these hideous advertising benches across Prague, but for some reason left these ones untouched. I hope they'll reconsider now and replace them with modern ones," the deputy says.

Expert Gáblová believes the area around the stop itself also needs a serious clean-up. "The problem with these tram tracks is that they behave like a railway and lose their urban function. It's genuine chaos — the line was built without any real concept. The structure is big, ugly, and pointless: it blocks the platform, yet on the other side, there's real potential to create a pleasant space for people," she says.

The history of the tram line from Hlubočepy to Sídliště Barrandov dates back to the late 20th century, when covered stops with steel structures were built to shield platforms from the weather. Today, the glass panels there are gradually being replaced with more durable polycarbonate and acrylic ones, which are more resistant to vandalism, the DPP spokesperson explained. Routine repairs to the stop's surfaces and equipment, he added, are carried out continuously as needed.

Gáblová, meanwhile, suggests thinking on a bigger scale: the area around the stop, which falls under the district's jurisdiction, could host a café, a children's play area, and a public restroom. "It's a shame not to use the stop's potential. It's not just about lamp holders or shielding passengers from rain — public space needs to be designed just as thoughtfully as a home, with its own kitchen and living room," the expert concludes, admitting, however, that for now this remains just a vision.

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Source: seznamzpravy.cz