“On The Bench” is a new program created through a partnership from three local non-profit organizations: Play NC, Bull City Woodshop, and Bike Durham, The program is designed to build and distribute locally-made wood benches to bus stops that need them in Durham, NC. “On the Bench” hopes to improve conditions for our public transit system and provide a solution to a significant problem in the community, while also spreading awareness for our charity partners.
As of July 1, 2026, we currently have 18 Bus Benches installed and active in Durham, with a map and photos below.
According to an intensive analysis by Bike Durham, there are more than 850 bus stops in Durham and ~70% 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. Some problems take the city a long time to solve, usually for good reason, but we can help people be comfortable when riding the bus now, today, immediately.
To fill this need, we are partnering together to host FREE community building sessions at Bull City Woodshop. Click below for details on how to register for our next sessions:
For both “Free” sessions, we hope to make 10 more benches at each class, more than doubling our current total! We have a goal to get 50 benches out by the end of the year, so please sign up to build a bench, have fun, and help your community!
CLICK HERE TO DONATE OR SIGN UP FOR A CLASS
The benches won’t last forever, but they’ll last a long time. This is a community-lead solution to a problem that will help people in our city who need it the most.
There are four ways for you to support this project.
- Donate Money or Materials through Play NC
- If you donate to “On The Bench” by Play NC through this link, your donation will be earmarked for the “On The Bench” program.
- Play NC will use earmarked donations to purchase the materials and pay for all additional expenses related to building and installing benches at Durham bus stops, with an expected final cost of $125 per 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 the frequency of these classes will be based on donation receipts.
- 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.
- Adopt a Bench!
- Instead of donating money or building things, you can Adopt a Bench and help us maintain the benches that have already been placed.
- As part of the perks of adopting a bench, you will have full control of the designs and colors of your bench. However, you will not be allowed to place words or promotional messages on these benches.
- Exceptions may be provided for pre-approved designs, and funding for paint / materials may be provided for designs that promote Play NC partner charities, if you want your bench to support a great local cause.
- Requirements:
- Quarterly: You, or a representative of your group, must physically visit your bench at least once every season. (ie. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter). You will inspect the bench, report any damages or repairs, and provide a “proof of life” photo to BCW.
- Yearly: You, or a representative of your group, must physically visit your bench at least once per year. You will perform all of the same Quarterly Tasks, but also repaint or reseal your bench, at your own expense.
- If you are interested in Adopting a Bench, click here.
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.
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! If you do make your own bench using these plans, please consider donating it to Bike Durham so they can install it at a needed bus stop!
This project is supported in part by a Duke Doing Good Grant, alongside generous contributions from our community members.
