@KimCrayton1 first time I saw one of these I thought wouldn't a wheelchair user just park to the side or front of the bench at a comfortable distance and angle for chatting?

Backing into that space would have the effect of being in different rows of seating. Going forward into the gap would be better for talking to someone on the bench but then the bars are just awkward and useless. Which is true in any case.

No way this was ever designed with wheelchairs in mind.