The most obvious items near the street were decorative. Pictured below are two different sculptures and a window box which were placed along the walkway by merchants.
These merchants also provide conveniences for consumers, the most obvious being benches. The first two benches seem commonplace (located in front of Merlin's and M&T Bank respectively). In front of M&T Bank there are also tales and seating available. While the benches are surely ore recent, businesses have been making outdoor seating available to pedestrians for centuries. The final bench pictured is located in front of Urban and seems to blur the line between decorative and utilitarian as it fulfills the same purpose as the previously mentioned benches in a stylized manner.
Along Elmwood many bike racks can be found, as pictured below. The first is a more traditional design, while the second seems more streamlined. While bike racks have been available most likely since the popularity of biking at the turn of the century, the second particularly would not resemble those of the past.
Merchants also provide other conveniences for consumers, like the umbrella and heat lamps pictured below, as well as promotional signs for their businesses.
Pictured below are a crosswalk, traffic sign and lamppost which help people get where they are going. The crosswalk button is the product of the late 20th century, but street signs and lighting have been provided by government for centuries.
Not all government placed items found near the streets are meant to help people get around, many are also placed for maintenance. Pictured below, a telephone poll provides electricity to nearby business and housing, and a manhole provides entrance to the cities sewers. Blue garbage bis which are used in Buffalo provide uniformity to the appearance and procedure of the cities personal garbage removal, and the yellow cans which can be found on many telephone polls help prevent pedestrian litter. Parking meters also help regulate the placement of vehicles as well as provide revenue for city services.
There were several other notable objects found near the streets, for example this USPS mailbox and machines which vend newspapers.
