Yes, absolutely. Many urban benches are deliberately designed to make skateboarding and loitering more difficult. This practice is often called hostile architecture or defensive urban design, and once you start noticing it, you will see it all over public spaces.
The most common feature is the metal armrest or divider. At first glance, it looks like a simple accessibility aid or just part of the bench. In reality, those armrests are often placed every couple of feet to break up the flat surface. Skateboarders need a continuous edge or smooth plane to grind or slide, and those dividers make that nearly impossible. They also prevent someone from lying flat across the bench, which is where the anti-loitering function comes in.
Some anti-skateboarding benches have rounded edges, rough textures, or wavy metal surfaces instead of a standard flat seat. These shapes make it hard to balance a board on the edge or slide smoothly. You may also see small metal brackets or bumps attached to the side of a bench or ledge. Those are sometimes called skate stoppers, and they serve the same purpose without changing the overall look too much.
Anti-loitering design tends to be a bit different. Benches may be shorter, slightly sloped, or split into individual bucket-style seats. A sloped surface is especially common because it still allows someone to sit for a few minutes, but it makes lying down or sleeping uncomfortable. Some benches also lack backrests or are made from materials that become very hot or cold, which discourages people from staying too long.
One famous example is the Camden bench in London. It was introduced partly to prevent rough sleeping, drug dealing, and loitering. Its concrete body has angled surfaces and no flat areas that would be comfortable for extended rest. Many cities have since adopted similar designs, often without loudly announcing the purpose.
Of course, this kind of design is controversial. Supporters say it keeps public spaces cleaner, safer, and more available for everyone. Critics argue that it targets homeless people, teenagers, and skateboarders instead of solving the real social problems behind those behaviors. Some urban planners and advocacy groups now push for more inclusive public seating that still considers maintenance and safety but does not treat discomfort as a design goal.
So the next time you see a bench with strange metal bars, a wavy seat, or a suspicious slope, it probably is not bad design. It is likely a very intentional choice aimed at controlling how people use the space. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing depends on who you ask, but the answer to your question is clear: yes, many urban benches are absolutely designed to deter skateboarding and loitering.