Honestly, I feel you on this one. There’s nothing quite like spotting a bench when your feet are killing you, only to sit down and realize your legs are swinging like a kid in a high chair. Not a good look, and certainly not comfortable. I've spent way too much time thinking about this, so let me break down exactly what you're dealing with.
Most standard urban benches are designed for the "average" person, whatever that means. The typical seat depth—the distance from the front edge to the backrest—usually falls between 14 and 18 inches. I've measured a few in my local park (yes, I'm that person), and they almost always clock in around 16 to 17 inches deep. That works well if you're about average height and can sit back with your feet flat on the ground. But if you have shorter legs, even that "standard" depth can leave you feeling like your circulation is about to get cut off behind your knees.
The real culprit for dangling legs isn't always just the depth, though. It's the combination of depth and height. A bench that’s too deep forces you to either sit forward away from the backrest, which leaves zero support for your upper body, or sink all the way back and watch your legs stick straight out. If the front edge is also high off the ground—say, 18 inches or more—then shorter folks simply can't reach. I’m 5’4”, and I’ve learned that anything deeper than 17 inches with a seat height above 17 inches spells trouble for me.
So what should you actually look for if you want to keep your legs from dangling? Aim for a bench with a seat depth of 15 to 16 inches if you’re on the shorter side, and ideally a seat height no more than 16 inches. Slatted public benches with a noticeable gap between the backrest and the seat are actually better in this case, because you can cheat a little and sit slightly forward with your lower back still touching the slats. Solid concrete or metal benches with one flat surface? They rarely do any favors for petite frames.
If you’re stuck with a deep city bench, here’s a quick hack: perch right on the front edge and place your feet firmly on the ground, then cross your ankles or tuck one foot behind the other. It takes the pressure off the backs of your thighs and miraculously stops that restless dangling. You can also throw a folded jacket behind you to fill the depth gap and create a makeshift booster. Sounds a bit extra, but when you need to sit for more than five minutes, it works.
At the end of the day, designers are slowly catching on, and you'll find more accessible benches in newer developments that actually consider different body sizes, but old-school city benches still lean toward that 16-to-18-inch depth. Now you know exactly what to eye up before you commit to a seat. Happy bench hunting, and may your feet always touch the ground.