After a wave of complaints about the removal of benches from two bus shelters adjacent to the Steamship Authority terminal in Vineyard Haven earlier this month, the Tisbury select board agreed Tuesday to replace the benches with individual seating.

Some members of the public voiced their displeasure at the decision to take out the benches.

Ray Ewing

Some members of the public voiced their displeasure at the decision to take out the benches.

Ray Ewing

The Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority had asked the town to remove the shelter benches, saying they attracted loiterers and campers who caused trouble and intimidated bus passengers.

But the loss of shelter seating came as a blow to senior and disabled bus riders, who have made their disappointment known to town officials.

“We tried to fix a problem, but . . . we forgot about the people who weren’t the problem,” select board member Roy Cutrer said at Tuesday’s meeting.

Police chief Christoper Habekost recommended replacing the benches with divided seating, to keep occupants upright.

“[It] allows for people to sit and prevents people from lying down and sort of hogging those seats,” Mr. Habekost said.

The select board voted unanimously to have town administrator Joseph LaCivita work with the police department to select replacement seating for the bus shelters.

Mr. LaCivita said he would bring the proposed solution back to the select board for approval at an upcoming meeting.