Municipal governments, take note: a university student has invented the perfect public bench.

Displayed at this year’s ICFF, an ingenious solution to our urban bike-locking crisis: The Wright Bench. It’s a piece of functional furniture that combines a park bench with a bike rack.

Because this is the wrong way to lock up your bike…

This is the Wright Way.

No…

Yes!

Appalachian State University (ASU) student Eugene Duclos created the bench/bike rack for the Perennial Wood Appalachian State Design Studio contest. Evidently, Perennial Wood is a new type of U.S. manufactured wood, modified to protect against rot and decay, and uniquely suited for moist outdoor environments. With ASU being in North Carolina – the same state as the Wright brothers – the design was created in homage to the first flight duo: a wing-shaped wooden seat and wrought iron rack behind it. Did you know the Wright brothers were first entrepreneurs in the bike business? It’s true.

Let’s hope Duclos has trademarked his inventive bench. It seems only a matter of time before municipal governments flock en masse to purchase these benches for cities and parks.

Images: Galdo Trouchky; Mike Dillingham: Despoke; BitchcakesNY; PSFK

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