Yes, absolutely. In fact, you’ve probably sat on one without even realizing it. These benches are often referred to as “hostile architecture” or “defensive design,” and they’re becoming increasingly common in public spaces like parks, bus stops, and city plazas. Their main purpose is to shape behavior—specifically, to make it uncomfortable or impossible for people to lie down on them (which discourages sleeping) or to perform tricks with skateboards.
Let’s start with sleeping. To prevent someone from stretching out, designers add surface features like armrests placed at regular intervals, dividing the bench into individual seats. Some benches have slanted seats or a curved, convex shape that makes lying flat nearly impossible. Others use a central metal bar or bolt heads that poke up, making it painful to stay horizontal for more than a few minutes. These are sometimes called “anti-homeless benches,” which has sparked ethical debates about whether cities are prioritizing appearance over compassion.
Now for skateboard deterrents. Skateboarders love ledges, rails, and long, smooth benches for grinding or sliding. To fight this, manufacturers install metal studs or small bumps along the edge (often called “skate stoppers” or “pig ears”). Some benches have textured, bumpy surfaces on the seat edges, which ruin any smooth ride. Others use angled or rounded edges that make it difficult for skateboard trucks to grip. You’ll also see benches with cutouts or gaps in the middle, breaking up any continuous surface longer than a couple of feet.
The most common designs combine both strategies. For example, a bench might have a divided seat with center armrests (anti-sleeping) and metal pegs bolted onto the side edges (anti-skateboarding). They’re made from concrete or heavy steel so they can’t be easily moved or broken.
But not everyone loves these benches. Critics call them “unkind design” because they target people experiencing homelessness and penalize harmless recreational activities. Some cities have started testing alternative solutions, like curved benches that look more like artwork but still discourage lying down, or offering designated areas for skateboarding to reduce conflicts.
So yes, these benches exist, and they’re pretty effective. Next time you see a bench with odd armrests or tiny bumps along the edge, you’ll know it’s not an accident—it’s a quiet little war on sleeping and skateboarding.