Have a seat: Chairs mysteriously appear at Bend bus stops

There’s something unusual happening along Southeast 27th Street in Bend. Recently, chairs have begun appearing next to bus stops. Not normal bus stop benches, but actual patio furniture.

The chairs aren’t fancy, but they’re functional. And no one knows where they came from, one rider said.

“It’s like somebody just decided that they all needed them and just dropped them off in the middle of the night, because they weren’t here — and then they were,” he said.

The chairs are mostly plastic deck chairs, zip tied to the Cascades East Transit bus stop signs, offering tired travelers, a spot to sit and wait.

Brandon Baker, an associate pastor at Desert Streams Church on 27th Street. said he only recently noticed the chairs.

“Somebody’s been nice enough to put some seats there, so if you have to sit down, you can actually relax,” Baker said.

Who that somebody is, NewsChannel 21 is still trying to piece together.

CET fficials said the chairs are not their doing, and they don’t encourage it for a number of reasons, including accessibility and permitting.

Despite that, people seem to appreciate the seats, including Melissa Briley, who was waiting on a bus Monday at a stop without a chair.

“This is a popular bus stop, a very popular bus stop. The grocery store is right there. You’d think that they’d have a seating area to (sit) down with all of your bags,” Briley said.

So whether the chairs stay or go, people will be keeping a close eye on them.

“Feel like I’m going to be on the lookout for the ‘Chaired Bandit’ — whoever keeps bringing chairs and putting them at the bus stop,” Baker said.

And for now the mystery, will remain, as for who is offering riders a chance to take a rest and catch their breath.

“It’s a good time of year, I guess,” Baker said. “People are trying to spread the Christmas joy and do something nice for someone else. It’s always good to see this time of year.”

If you happen to know who is placing the chairs next to bus stops, we’d love to hear from you. Drop us an email at stories@ktvz.com.