Bench Removed from Pitkäniemenkatu Bus Shelter After Residents Report Disturbances

Tampere removed the bench from the Pitkäniemenkatu bus shelter in the Kalkku district on Thursday, October 8, according to Aamulehti. The move followed residents' complaints about people gathering and causing disturbances, Aamulehti reported.

The Pitkäniemenkatu stop (number 1585) sits close to K-market Kalkku. City transport logistics manager Juha Kortteus said residents repeatedly asked for the seat to be removed because groups were congregating at the shelter and on the bench; the gatherings caused problems during daytime and evening hours. He said nights were generally quiet.

The bench has been removed temporarily. It will be returned once the situation calms, but no date has been set. Kortteus said Tampere only occasionally removes benches for this reason and has used the same measure before when an area became less troubled. The decision follows earlier coverage of repeated disturbances in local public spaces in Tammerinpuisto.