Skatestoppers are skate-deterrent or anti-skate devices placed on urban terrain features such as benches and handrails to discourage skateboarders grinding on the surfaces where they have been installed;[1] they are a form of hostile architecture.[1]
The name Skatestopper is a registered trademark of Intellicept of El Cajon, California,[2] but in some skateboarding circles it has become a genericized term referring to any anti-skate device.[3]
Design
The most basic design is an L-shaped bracket affixed at intervals along the grind-able structure. Early designs were made from nylon[1] while more recent designs have been made from aluminum.[4] At the same time more ornamental versions have been produced. The devices have been targeted for removal by skateboarders resulting in attempts to make them tamper resistant.[4]
Criticism
Some have viewed skatestoppers as just another obstacle to be overcome and the presence of skatestoppers actually encourages them to stay in the location longer.[5]
References
External links
Media related to Skate stops at Wikimedia Commons
