> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.creativeconnector.art/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# metal spikes on a bench 😡 there's a word for that
- URL: https://www.creativeconnector.art/it-was-terrifying/
- Published: 2023-10-03T12:00:57.000Z
- Updated: 2023-12-21T14:14:54.000Z
- Description: Disabled dancer and founder of Abilities Dance, Ellice Patterson, is the mind behind The Protest Crawl
- Author: Creative Connector
- Tags: Blog, Culture

**Today's read:**

Disabled dancer and founder of [Abilities Dance](https://www.abilitiesdanceboston.org/?ref=creativeconnector.art), Ellice Patterson, is the mind behind [The Protest Crawl](https://www.dotnews.com/2023/disabled-artist-exposes-challenges-redesign-mattapan-square?ref=creativeconnector.art), an advocacy event aimed at bringing attention to the inaccessibility and hostility of public space and transportation in Boston.

> The crawl was a representation of how I feel in navigating the streets when I’m out on a day-to-day basis and how coming home I feel more down and inflamed. It was a process to show that and the other challenges that I and others feel when navigating and how it can be a barrier to public life. 

Ellice is also the mind behind "Manifesto Against Defensive Design" which led me down a rabbit hole to discover [#defensivedesignTO](https://www.defensiveto.com/?ref=creativeconnector.art) which documents examples of hostile and anti-human design choices in Toronto neighborhoods that target people who rely on them the most.

[Ever wonder why you can’t lie down on most city benches? It’s thanks to ‘defensive design’ | CBC News“Defensive design” is a controversial trend found in cities across Canada, from Toronto to Moncton, which aims to prevent urban issues through everything from rigid benches that can’t be used for lying down, to metal spikes on storefront signs to keep away pigeons. But is it too “hostile” to be help…![](https://www.cbc.ca/a/apple-touch-icon.png)CBCLaurenPelley![](https://i.cbc.ca/1.5197123.1562085529!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/park-bench.jpg)](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/how-defensive-design-leads-to-rigid-benches-metal-spikes-and-visual-violence-in-modern-cities-1.5192333?ref=creativeconnector.art)

---

### Thank you for being here 

*The Daily* is a free newsletter connecting **330+** subscribers to a daily selection of Disability Arts ephemera and Crip culture. Join **45** paid subscribers to help keep this going! We'll send you extra goodies and love along the way. 

[Upgrade to paid](https://www.creativeconnector.art/membership/)

---

###