“On The Bench” is a new program from Play NC, designed to build and distribute benches to bus stops that need them in Durham, NC. Made possible through a partnership with Bull City Woodshop and Bike Durham, “On the Bench” hopes to spread awareness for our charity partners while providing the solution to a significant need to the community.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE OR SIGN UP FOR A CLASS

According to an intensive analysis by Bike Durham, there are more than 1,100 bus stops in Durham, and almost half of them do not have a place for riders to sit. Improving the comfort and convenience of the overall bus riding experience is critical to increase modern public transportation usage.

There are three ways for you to support this project:

  • Donate Money or Materials
    • If you donate $125, you will pay for one bench.
    • If you donate lumber, we could use any standard or pressure-treated 2×4, 2×6, or 2×8.
      • Unless we can coordinate delivery just before a class, gift cards to lumber yards or Lowes/Home Depot are generally better than donated wood.
    • To donate, click here.
  • Take a FREE “On the Bench” class at Bull City Woodshop
    • Sign up for free classes at BCW, where qualified instructors will teach you how to make this bench.
    • You will make a bench, sign your name, and we will place that bench out into the world for people to sit on while waiting for the bus.
    • We can host free classes once we receive enough donated money or materials to host a free class, so these may be more infrequent.
    • To check Free class availability, click here.
  • Take a PAID “On the Bench” class at Bull City Woodshop
    • Same as the Free classes, but you will get to keep the bench you make for yourself.
    • The $250 price for the class will pay for two benches, your bench plus a donated bench, so you will also fund a spot in one of the Free classes above.
    • To check Paid class availability, click here.

If you just want to build your own bench, we are happy to share the plans, but taking part in the class is the fun part!

Some bus stops have known property and zoning restrictions that make placement of a bench impossible, but there are enough stops that we can focus on to still make a difference. Long-term solutions from the city can take years to implement, so we are hoping to provide a short-term solution that fills an important need in a variety of ways.

We will be launching our first class soon, with the first build day schedule for May 2, 2026.

Please check back soon for more information!