Another example of a society that has lost its mind, and has become psychopathic, because they see sociopathy as a form of freedom. When instead it oppresses the population where it should help.

A Psychopathic solution to a problem that is also caused by psychopathy.
To call it a weapons free zone is disgusting, when we all know it's to prevent the homeless from sleeping there.

It's a masterlock though, you can pick it by lightly touching the keyhole with a blade of grass

I was gonna say you can rake it, but your sarcasm is better.

Only if you're the lawyer, everyone else needs to put a little force behind the blade of grass

I never considered this before, but now I'm glad I carry lock picks with me everywhere. That shitty padlock would take 10 seconds and I'd be on my way with a new beginner practice lock.

Fuck hostile architecture, fuck anywhere that makes an already shitty situation worse by telling the homeless "we don't view you as people, go die somewhere else"

And it's not even just the homeless who are affect by shit like this. I can't tell you how many park benches I slept on in my twenties when I lived in Europe and I'd stay out too late and have to chill out somewhere until morning.

In America you can't take a nap in your car or even read a book in your car without having the cops hassle you.

I wonder what the cops are going to do when all vehicles are driverless.

The should have just put wheels in them. Then they curious just roll the needy into shelters.

At least there are enough houses for everyone /s

Where is this?

Or just hit it with another master lock.

This can't be for real right? Right?

Jesus christ. I don't even know where to start.

I wouldn’t normally vandalize a bench, but…

Picking a lock is something you do when you don’t want to destroy the lock. In this case, fuck that lock. A rock will solve the problem of it being there just fine.

Just so you know, if a cop ever catches you with lock picks, depending on the jurisdiction, they may try to arrest you for possession of lock picks with intent to burglarize (in the US, at least). Not saying you shouldn’t - but be mindful of what the potential legal hazards are in the worst case.

"the homeless" are always used as the excuse for stuff like this, but (as you stated are an example of) plenty of people "rough sleep" without being homeless. I've never slept on a bench, but I've spent a few nights in state parks with a hammock due to not wanting to be around my family for varying reasons. Once because I was supposed to be sleeping at a friend's house but went to a party and decided fuck this imma leave.

It's funny you mention reading because I've actually been harassed by cops for "loitering" in the park when I was sitting in my car reading.

In some places, benches are destroyed by mentally unwell people out of boredom or misplaced aggression. Sure would suck if someone bored or frustrated took bolt cutters to these padlocks.

Not a single person in the whole of the world 'sits' before 10 hundred hours ante-merididan o'clock....

Pocket size and 2 batteries. Get busy.

$25

Probably put this in a place with 0 homeless, or maybe a campsite where people would be camping anyway. People don't talk about how deadly it can be to sleep on the ground sometimes too. There's a percentage of "this design can indirectly contribute to a death", in every bench like this. It shouldn't even be a thing

yeah fuck you if you wanna enjoy the morning in the park i guess

I'm well aware, and unfortunately I am in one of those states. If they ever decide to search me and my purse, they'll find it.

Mere possession is considered proof of criminal intent. But I also always have a clear acrylic lock and easy padlock to show interested people how to pick a lock. It's fun and cheap as a hobby. So if I ever do get caught, at least I can make the argument of it being a hobby more convincing. I don't really expect to get off easy because of that, but if I'm ever caught and searched by cops, having a set of lock picks will probably not be my biggest concern.

My initial response is negative, but, i continue, only morning in the park?

Do you have a response that isn't woerhlwas and anger-inspiring?

So they pay someone to lock / unlock it, that's an externalized cost of not solving the issues elsewhere. A little too much on the individualistic side of things.

If we think the logic through, it is very insidious. The city has decided that the public perception of locking up benches is far more preferably then allowing a place for people to sit/sleep.

In essence, it is better for a bunch of people to be collateral in punishing the homeless then it is to be seen making homeless people's lives marginally better.

"Hey, this is the Lockpicking Lawyer and today I have a Masterlock......and it's already open."

It looks to be a basic af Masterlock. You could use bolt cutters on those and save some money.

If people don't have anywhere to exist, they can't legally exist, even if they do. But that's the whole point, isn't it? Hoping the homeless will just die quietly offscreen?

Based on The Lockpicking Lawyer's videos, you could practically sneeze at the thing and it would pop right open

book in your car without having the cops hassle you.

is this a reference to that video of the guy waiting out the rain in a gas station parking lot by reading a book in his car and getting absolutely harassed by the cops who very obviously wanted to provoke a larger issue?

or is this a more common genre than i realize.

That's the hope. It's a bad look to just have the cops round up and shoot homeless people - much easier to just have them die on the street or whatever so we can claim they're all junkies and drunks and weirdos. Turns out corpses can't tell their side of the story.

there is an acceptable number of people to kill per design and this falls far below it.

Sometimes I walk around town late at night. Last week I saw a guy with a sleeping bag napping in the park gazebo. He wasn't bothering me or anyone, so I just let him be.

Avoid their cameras.

I guess there are some spots with particularly awful cops, but most places, as long as you're not parked illegally, you can totally take a nap or hang out in your car no problem

more like "wildly infuriating"

You can also just shim a Masterlock with a bit of soda can. A stiff piece of plastic will also usually work.

All spots have particularly awful cops.

the only difference is some places have better PR/Coverup than others.

I am surprised they are even there at all. Better than no benches I guess.

Dystopian as fuck.

Its a masterlock you don't even need a pick.

Or you want to open a lock without it being obvious that you did it. Picking the lock would make it look like the staff forgot to lock it, short of a forensic teardown of the lock.

Cops by me let the striking union workers park their cars in illegal spots while we picketed at 2am in the middle of winter. It was their act of support for the union.

Don't make the assumption of thinking all cops are equally evil. Even pieces of shit have a lot of shades. I've been horrible, hating people who are nice to everyone, including black people, but are republican voting racist scum

Locksmith here. I'm also in a state with these laws, and on top of that there is no licensing for locksmiths. I'm an ALOA member now, but when I first started I would carry a card for my friend's lock shop. I figured I'd I ever was stopped and searched I could at least present the card as part of a broader plausible deniability. Similar to your acrylic lock. If you have a locksmith shop in your area, grab one of their cards and keep it in your purse. Ideally in your lockpick set if it's large enough.

Also, a PSA. "Officer safety" does not trump the fourth amendment. If an officer orders you to let them search your purse for "officer safety", anything found that isn't related to the safety of the officer is out of bounds legally. That's an argument for court tho. Make sure that they clearly state they are ordering you to have over your purse/bag/backpack/whatever. If they say "I'm asking you to", that's not an order. Saying something like, "With all due respect, I'm not surrendering my fourth amendment rights. If you order me to do something I will comply, and we can argue in court later. I want us both to get home safe tonight." This shows you're not volunteering to hand over your stuff, but you're not resisting, hampering, or obstructing either. It's a lot to remember, but "is that an order?" Is a great question to ask anytime a cop tells you something

I want us both to get home safe tonight.

Do not say that to a cop. If it's taken as threatening, they can use that justification to escalate. And if it can be taken as threatening, it will be.

"I don't consent to any searches, but you have my full cooperation with any action you feel you have probable cause to do." "Why?" "I'd prefer not to elaborate without a lawer present. Am I free to go?"

Lots of 'sir, ma'am, please, thank you' etc; if they ask for your ID and it's in your purse, say something like "It's in a wallet in my purse, I'm reaching in to get it" (and do so slowly) but otherwise say as little as possible.

Tbh, I think I'd prefer no architecture to hostile architecture.

If we can't have a chair without malicious intent, we don't need the fucking chair.

I’m not arguing against the bullshit that is making homelessness an even greater indignity let alone crime. Fuck that all day forever.

But I spent a greater part of three years voluntarily homeless (~15 years ago) to avoid violence at home. I consider myself extremely fortunate that I had a car I personally owned for most (but not all) of it which was a huge boon for me.

When I had a car, I parked in the back of 24h parking lots such as Walmart. Lacking that I parked behind higher end, but not too high, restaurants that kept bars open to call (2am). I was aware that in the latter case people became aware of me, but I never had problems.

When I didn’t have a car I found a ground level HVAC unit (behind grocery/department stores) because they were great at drowning out sound and giving me a relatively constant temperature.

I avoided parks because they often have posted hours and are regularly checked by police.

I’ve never been bothered by a cop. This is my truth, but not a justification.

In some countries they literally make life easier for people to live, and even enjoy living, a travelers life. The US is not such a place

I can’t walk but about 2 meters at a time now. I think with my boomer brain. Seat, sit. But you are correct.

Loud. Looks like there are similar-sized battery powered bolt butters that'll do the job much quieter. Bonus points if you cut the tab the lock is attached to vs the lock itself. Make it require an actual repair and not just a lock replacement.

Edit - Oh jfc, the one pictured is over $3k ...Ryobi has one for $200, which is still a good chunk more expensive than the grinder, but well worth the stealth imo.

You can take one for the team here: go there at 9a, walk a bit, collapse while trying to find somewhere to sit, then sue the fuck out of the state/county for discriminating against the infirm.

You get a pay day, hostile architecture gets treated as a liability instead of a solution. Win win!