# Anti-homeless spikes **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 30, 2014, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044 "2014-06-30T23:12:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/1 "2014-06-30T23:12:39Z")
Here’s one from London. Imagine you’re the manager of an apartment block. It has a sheltered entrance and a few benches on site. It’s come to your notice that the tenants are getting tired of homeless people using these areas to crash. Would you install [spikes](http://www.vancouverobserver.com/sites/vancouverobserver.com/files/images/article/body/v2-homeless-spikes.jpg) (also seen on [window sills](http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/6/11/1402505346117/ae22fd62-197a-42f7-9714-d9d2702dc70c-460x276.jpeg)) to deter them from the entrance, or an [arm rest](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Empty_bench_in_Soho_Square.jpg) to stop them sleeping on the benches? I know what I think, but then I don’t have to clean up puke and piss. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/2 "2014-06-30T23:17:56Z")
Sure, no doubt about it, deadly sharp spikes all over the place are certainly going to be less of a concern for parents with young children than homeless people. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/3 "2014-06-30T23:27:02Z")
Presumably places with the spikes end up with more puke and shit because if they can’t sleep there why not use it for other needs? Although they serve roughly the same purpose the arm rests don’t seem as much of an affront to human dignity as the spikes. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/4 "2014-06-30T23:27:04Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Sure, no doubt about it, deadly sharp spikes all over the place are certainly going to be less of a concern for parents with young children than homeless people. I was certainly surprised it was legal to treat a human like Sonic the Hedgehog, though I don’t think the spikes could be accurately called deadly sharp - [here’s a closer look](http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/6/12/1402582131110/The-inch-high-conical-spi-009.jpg) at that London cubbyhole. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/5 "2014-06-30T23:33:27Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > I was certainly surprised it was legal to treat a human like Sonic the Hedgehog, though I don’t think the spikes could be accurately called deadly sharp - [here’s a closer look](http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/6/12/1402582131110/The-inch-high-conical-spi-009.jpg) at that London cubbyhole. Ah, I couldn’t quite make out the spikes in the other two pictures; I was thinking of something more like what you have for [pigeons](http://www.securi-cap.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/bird-spikes.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/6 "2014-06-30T23:38:10Z")
I would install both. They’re simple and effective. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/7 "2014-07-01T00:05:12Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I would install both. They’re simple and effective. Yeah, I see where you’re going with that. The stuff on the windowsills looks like it might possibly even be _more_ comfortable than the manhole covers for steam vents I used to see the homeless sleeping on. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/8 "2014-07-01T00:21:07Z")
I don’t see anything too objectionable about the arm rests. You can still sleep sitting up. If anything I expect obese people to complain they can’t fit in there. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/9 "2014-07-01T00:23:34Z")
I’d install the armrests, but the spikes seem more trouble than they’re worth - even if they’re not sharp, just think of all the potential lawsuits . . . ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/10 "2014-07-01T00:25:09Z")
I was wondering too about the spikes, would a few layers of cardboard boxes not mitigate any discomfort from them? As the close up reveals, they’re not that sharp. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/11 "2014-07-01T00:32:42Z")
The spikes are an eyesore. Surely with some forethought the building could have been designed to not have that cubby hole, or a large planter could be placed in it with low light plants and automatic irrigation, or bright lights could be installed as a deterrent, or music (muzak?) could be piped in. There are better options than rolling out the unwelcome mat in such an obvious way. I think the arm rests are a good solution. As a bonus it’ll keep the fatties away. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/12 "2014-07-01T00:36:52Z")
I think they just look like a hardened version of [this](http://www.consumersearch.com/files/cs/images/products/gossamer-gear-nightlight-torso-big.jpg). I’m sure this is relevant somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/13 "2014-07-01T00:58:09Z")
The spikes seem like overkill, I’m sure something a lot less dangerous and intimidating could be used. Overall it’d just be easier to improve mental health care and addiction services for the homeless. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/14 "2014-07-01T00:59:20Z")
I’d install the armrests but not the spikes. The armrests would also help keep skateboarders from using the benches as grinding surfaces. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/15 "2014-07-01T01:50:57Z")
My city has begun installing coarse, crushed-rock surfacing on certain traffic divider berms. The surface is so rough and uneven, you can’t walk on it. The idea is to keep beggars from walking up and down the dividers, soliciting funds from cars in traffic. It hasn’t stopped the die-hards, alas, who simply insist on disrupting traffic and exposing themselves to unnecessary risk. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/16 "2014-07-01T01:54:21Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > The spikes seem like overkill, I’m sure something a lot less dangerous and intimidating could be used. Overall it’d just be easier to improve mental health care and addiction services for the homeless. That’s easier, huh? A manager of an apartment building can end homelessness with less effort than it takes to hire a contractor to drill some holes and install spikes in them. Who would have thought? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/17 "2014-07-01T02:07:46Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > The spikes seem like overkill, I’m sure something a lot less dangerous and intimidating could be used. Overall it’d just be easier to improve mental health care and addiction services for the homeless. That’s just crazy talk. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/18 "2014-07-01T02:12:15Z")
Crazy talk is good for discussing mental health issues. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/19 "2014-07-01T02:29:28Z")
I would install a giant version of the Mouse Trap game. So every time an undesirable comes near, a giant cover blocks them from view so we don’t have to feel the slightest discomfort of reality. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044/20 "2014-07-01T02:38:34Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > I don’t see anything too objectionable about the arm rests. You can still sleep sitting up. If anything I expect obese people to complain they can’t fit in there. Then do what they do around here- put in 2.5" tall ridges in the place of the arm rests- that way obese people’s flab can range free, but the benches will still be uncomfortable enough that homeless people won’t sleep on them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-homeless-spikes/692044.md?page=2)