Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Warning: Painful Behinds

This is the first time I have seen spikes installed on top of fire hydrants in the city. Most fire hydrants have regular flat surfaces that make them a tempting place to sit down and rest one's feet after a long day of walking. But apparently, these two hydrants have other ideas.

Notice how the spikes were added and screwed onto the original structures and painted over? I wonder if the shop in the background has anything to do with this. Maybe the owners do not want people loitering outside the store.

Have you seen anything like this in your city?

20 comments:

delightful-d said...

No, I have not seen anything like this in MN. Why two fire hydrants, and green? It is a clever idea if you don't want anybody "sittin' around".
OUCH was my first thought and then it reminded me of your post with the dog collars.....
Very interesting post.... I enjoy reading about your city! thanks

stromsjo said...

Interesting observation.

I'm sure the shop is involved in this innovation and I guess this falls somewhere between efforts at preventing birds from sitting in certain places and making benches where you cannot comfortably lay down as illustrated earlier (from Sydney I think).

Have a comfortable day!

Olivier said...

les piques dessus, c'est pour interdire les gens de s'asseoir dessus ?


is the spades above, it to prohibit people to sit down above?

Anonymous said...

Nope. Not in Brookville. Our hydrants are between the curbs and sidewalks.

Abraham Lincoln
Just My Birds Blog
Brookville Daily Photo

Peter said...

I believe your guess to xplain is the good one. Maybe ask the shop owner?

Maybe I should know, but why the two different colours?

Mandy said...

never seen anything like this before but it sure is quaint.

Todd HellsKitchen said...

I use Standpipes to tie my shoes mostly...

Annie said...

That's positively unfriendly!

Carlos Lorenzo said...

Terribly funny and quite curious. great capture Ming.

Shammickite said...

I haven't seen this before, but I don't think I would want to sit down on a fire hydrant anyway.... and the explanation of the two different colours... HOT and COLD of course!!

Ming the Merciless said...

Ex-shammackite - Really? Why would there be a need for hot water? I'm curious.

Jilly said...

Ouch! No, nothing like that here. You've a great eye, Ming.

Chuckeroon said...

..nothing left to say Ming, except well done!

sonia a. mascaro said...

I haven't seen this before, Ming!

I like the hydrants color and also the contrast with the brown color of the shop in the background!

Your answer maybe is correct. The shop's owner don't want anybody to sit there.

Anonymous said...

I have never seen this before anywhere. I can't imagine loitering being that big of an issue to require these big ugly spikes.

teeth whitener

Dijah said...

This would be the first time seeing spikes attached to fire hydrants.It gives me the jitters just looking at it.Maybe it does have something to do with the shop in the background.I hope I won't see anything like it here in Malaysia.

yournotalone said...

Well, I would manage to sit on it anyway:):):)

Karlis Beinerts said...

I can only admit to what Aigars just said. It would be painful to sit on one row of spikes, but three are not delivering painful pressure on the place you lay on them.
P.S. Could it be, that the red one is the only still functional?

Unknown said...

No, I don't see things like this in Singapore.

Ouch!

• Eliane • said...

That is hilarious. Never seem before either. Great find!!!