A bench perched mid-span on Vancouver’s Granville Street Bridge has become an unlikely internet sensation – but not for its comfort, shade or location Nicknamed “Benchy McBenchface,” the unassuming slab has been added to Google Maps, where it boasts a suspiciously glowing 4.9-star rating and dozens of tongue-in-cheek reviews. “Best bench on the Granville Bridge, hands down,” raves one. “Great place for speed dating,” quips another. The bench is surrounded by heavy traffic, a bike lane, and no shade whatsoever. But that hasn’t stopped the public from treating it like the city’s newest tourist draw. Vancouver resident Michael Nemirsky tested the hype out for the first time Wedneday. “I had to try it out right now,” he said, settling in. “OK. Not too hot.” His review: mixed. “My eyeline goes right at the rail, so I can’t see out,” he added. “So if you’ve got a couple of cushions…” It’s been widely mocked on social media, not just for its location, but for the combined bench-ramp structures seen along the route, which some critics have called “depressing” or “hilariously bad.” The Granville Connector opened earlier this summer and was intended to provide safer walking and cycling access across the bridge. The current design is only Phase 1 of the project, and looks nothing like the artistic renderings originally shown to the public. More benches have quietly been added along the span, though no one seems to be lining up to try them out just yet. Meanwhile, there’s also a playful online push to give that first bench the moniker Granville Bridge Benchy McBenchface – all of it seemingly for a laugh, and reminiscent of Vancouver’s Dude Chilling Park and the Barge on the Beach.
