Call for Bund benches rejected
October 18, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AUTHORITIES on the Bund said yesterday that they have no plans to install benches on pavements outside the luxury stores, even though these retailers have complained about weary tourists using their steps and window ledges as seats.
Some stores are said to have taken to cleaning their window ledges more frequently, in bid to deter visitors from taking a rest there.
One cleaner told Shanghai Daily the windowsills are not seats, while cleaning some at a luxury store, yesterday afternoon.
However, most store window ledges, steps and the edges of flower beds were still populated by tired visitors, whose numbers have increased by 40 percent during the World Expo.
"We are taking pictures in front of these buildings and taking a rest in this building's shade as it's very sunny at the sightseeing platform now," said a young traveler, sitting on a store window ledge with his girlfriend, drinking water and eating bread. "We're just having a rest after walking so far."
Officials from the Shanghai Bund Management Office said they have received complaints from some high-end stores objecting to travelers sitting on their windowsills and using their toilets. The stores claim this has a negative impact on their image.
"The current large number of travelers is mainly caused by the Expo," said the office director Zhou Shunguo. "Despite complaints from the luxury retailers, we won't break the original design and install benches in this area.
"Bringing in 100 or 200 benches wouldn't solve the problem and it could seriously impact on the flow of pedestrians on the pavement."
He said there are enough benches for visitors on the sightseeing area of the Bund. "The pavement on the opposite side of the Bund sightseeing platform is used for walking.
"We have discussed the issue with some luxury stores and seek their understanding. We also want travelers to behave themselves."
The office hasn't received any complaints from travelers saying stores drove them away from their window ledge seats, said Zhou.
Some stores are said to have taken to cleaning their window ledges more frequently, in bid to deter visitors from taking a rest there.
One cleaner told Shanghai Daily the windowsills are not seats, while cleaning some at a luxury store, yesterday afternoon.
However, most store window ledges, steps and the edges of flower beds were still populated by tired visitors, whose numbers have increased by 40 percent during the World Expo.
"We are taking pictures in front of these buildings and taking a rest in this building's shade as it's very sunny at the sightseeing platform now," said a young traveler, sitting on a store window ledge with his girlfriend, drinking water and eating bread. "We're just having a rest after walking so far."
Officials from the Shanghai Bund Management Office said they have received complaints from some high-end stores objecting to travelers sitting on their windowsills and using their toilets. The stores claim this has a negative impact on their image.
"The current large number of travelers is mainly caused by the Expo," said the office director Zhou Shunguo. "Despite complaints from the luxury retailers, we won't break the original design and install benches in this area.
"Bringing in 100 or 200 benches wouldn't solve the problem and it could seriously impact on the flow of pedestrians on the pavement."
He said there are enough benches for visitors on the sightseeing area of the Bund. "The pavement on the opposite side of the Bund sightseeing platform is used for walking.
"We have discussed the issue with some luxury stores and seek their understanding. We also want travelers to behave themselves."
The office hasn't received any complaints from travelers saying stores drove them away from their window ledge seats, said Zhou.
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