Your question touches on a common and often controversial aspect of modern urban design. Yes, many public benches in cities worldwide incorporate specific features intended to discourage activities like prolonged sleeping or skateboarding. This design approach is often referred to as "defensive" or "hostile architecture.
Common features you might encounter include individual armrests dividing the seating space, making it impossible to lie down. Some benches have a slight, uncomfortable slant or are made from materials like cold, unwelcoming metal. Others are unusually short or have pronounced curves. To deter skateboarders, designers add metal knobs, ridges, or ledges along the edges of benches, preventing the smooth grind of a skateboard truck.
The stated intent from city planners and businesses is to maintain order, ensure benches are available for their primary purpose—sitting—and to reduce perceived loitering or vandalism. Proponents argue it protects public assets and can make areas feel safer for a broader range of people.
However, this practice sparks significant debate. Critics label it as "anti-homeless architecture," arguing that it solves a social problem (homelessness) with a punitive design that makes public space less comfortable for everyone, including the elderly or tired shoppers. It prioritizes deterrence over universal comfort and accessibility, raising ethical questions about who our public spaces are truly for.
So, while the answer to your question is "yes," the conversation around these benches extends far beyond their physical features, delving into deeper issues of social equity, public welfare, and the very nature of inclusive urban design.