Your concern about loitering touches on a widespread and often controversial practice in urban design: creating public benches that intentionally discourage prolonged sitting or sleeping. This approach is frequently called "hostile architecture" or "defensive design.
The core idea is to make benches uncomfortable or unusable for lying down, while still offering a perch for short-term sitting. Common designs include:
* Divided Benches: Individual seats are separated by solid armrests, preventing anyone from stretching out across the length of the bench.
* Sloped Seats: A slight but noticeable downward slope makes lying back or sleeping extremely difficult and uncomfortable.
* Strategic Armrests: Adding armrests in the middle of a bench effectively creates individual seating zones.
* Segmented or Curved Seats: Benches with pronounced curves or multiple small seat pans eliminate flat, continuous surfaces.
* Materials: Using cold, hard materials like metal, or incorporating slight bumps and ridges into the seating surface.
Proponents argue such designs maintain order, ensure benches are available for their intended use (brief sitting), and can reduce vandalism or perceived safety issues in certain areas. Critics, however, contend that these designs unfairly target homeless populations, treating the symptom (visible poverty) rather than addressing root causes like housing shortages. They argue it makes public spaces less welcoming for everyone, including the elderly or those who simply need a longer rest.
Ultimately, these bench designs represent a conscious choice in urban management, prioritizing deterrence over inclusive comfort. The debate continues as cities balance maintenance, perceived security, and social responsibility in shaping shared public environments.