New seating at Dublin bus stop branded ‘ugly and impractical’
A single, unsheltered seat at a bus stop in Balally in south Dublin has been branded “ugly and impractical”.
A photo of the new seating on Overend Avenue, near Balally Luas stop, received a backlash on social media, with many calling the design “ridiculous”, while others labelled it anti-homeless, hostile architecture.
Green Party Councillor for Dundrum, Robert Jones, said the new seating design at the stop, which serves the L25 bus route, is “bizarre”.
“The installation of a single metal chair at Dublin bus stops is more than just bad design, it’s a case study in how Ireland’s planning system fails the public,” he said.
“If we’re serious about building a liveable city, every piece of street furniture, from a bus stop to a bench, should be designed for comfort, utility, and aesthetics.
“That means places where people actually want to sit, wait, and interact, not awkward chairs bolted to the pavement. Public space should invite use, not discourage it.
“This is just one example of why more and more, we’re seeing ugly, impractical ‘solutions’ that do little for the public but tick a bureaucratic box.”
Funding for bus shelters comes from the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Dublin Bus. In 2024 and 2025, the NTA allocated €500,000 to local authorities to fund bus stop infrastructure.
A spokesperson for the NTA said that while it “provides funding for bus stop infrastructure, the actual design and delivery is carried out by the local authority – in this case Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council”.
Mr Jones said he believes Dublin deserves better and more modern infrastructure, on a par with other major European cities.
“Other cities manage to install proper seating and shelter on public transport routes that are accessible, comfortable and look like they belong in a modern city. Dublin deserves the same,” he said.
“This chair is the perfect symbol of the current system’s dysfunction: the planning tail wagging the public-realm dog.
“Until we flip the approach, designing for people first and letting the planning process support that, we’ll keep producing infrastructure that meets only the minimum standard of functionality."
A spokesperson for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said: “The seat is one of a number provided as part of the Bus Stop Enhancement Programme, funded by the NTA.
“The initial responses from users have been very positive. It is likely that more seats like this will be provided throughout the county.
“The seat has important design features for mobility impaired people and blind or partially sighted people.
“The armrests are for the benefit of mobility impaired people to help when getting up from the seat.
“The metal hoop under the seat is for the benefit of white cane users. The contrasting yellow colour of the hoop is for the benefit of partially sighted people.
“Bus stop 7916 near the Ballaly Luas does not currently have a shelter. The NTA is going through a procurement process for new bus shelters.
“It is likely that a new shelter will be provided here in 2026,” they added.