We crave the simple: benches, shade, rest, comfort, thoughtfulness, and breathing.
Any contributions go directly towards purchasing materials for our benches. Every little bit counts towards making Milwaukee a more accessible place.
We are neighbors and builders who believe that the city of Milwaukee should be safe, accessible, and comfortable for everyone. Across our city and county, hundreds of bus stops are little more than a sign on the side of a busy road, without shelter or a place to sit. They fail to provide even the barest minimum of accessibility. No one should have to stand for twenty minutes in the sun or snow just to get around the city.
We believe in the value of shaping our own communities. That's why we have taken the construction of bus stop benches into our own hands. We are committing to building
one hundred benches at bus stops across Milwaukee county.
Whether you are a leader in your community, or a neighbor who believes in what we are doing, we need your help. The best way to get in touch with us is to fill out our contact form at the bottom of this page. You can also send us an email at billsbusbenches@gmail.com.
If you want a bench at a stop near you, all you have to do is contact us and we will get a bench out there as soon as we can. We are working with neighborhood associations and community groups to get benches to the places in Milwaukee where people need them the most. If you would like to see bus benches installed in your neighborhood, we'd love for you to send us an email.
The best way you can help is by keeping an eye out for benches that might be damaged or missing. While we do our best to keep an eye on the benches we put out, Milwaukee is a big city, and we can't be everywhere at once. If you see a bench that has been broken or stolen, please send us an email. It really helps us out.
And if you'd like to join our team, we can use all the help we can get. We are a small team of volunteers, and as this project grows, we are going to need people to write grants, help make repairs, transport benches, and manage our website. We would love for you to be a part of this effort to make Milwaukee a more accessible place.
Active bench
(bench is in place and not broken)
Bench is in need of repairs
Bench is missing
Planned future benches
If you want to make a bench yourself, we've included a link to the design that we prefer to use. It's heavy enough to withstand the harsh Milwaukee weather, and comfortable enough for people with limited mobility.
Thank you to Bliffert for donating lumber to contribute to our bench-building efforts! Thanks to them, we have been able to replace some of our original benches with a sturdier design, as well as expand to new locations.