The season is changing and the clouds are evaporating. With each day getting brighter and sunnier, we are sure you have had an urge to go out for walks or kick a ball in the park with some friends. Or, maybe you would just like some alone time to sit on a park bench and read with a cup of tea and a chocolate croissant in your hand. Perhaps you have had an increased awareness of pedestrian safety and you would like to enjoy the fresh air combined with the feeling of rejuvenation without having to worry about your own safety. Well, there is no need for concern seeing as most public parks make use of bollards! Bollard sets are often placed in parks and public spaces to ensure the safety of people. If you would like to know more about how these landscaping elements help protect pedestrians in public spaces, take a look at this short and informative article.
What Is A Bollard?
A bollard is a small post that protrudes out from the ground to guide people. Well, that puts it rather simply doesn’t it? So let’s get a little more specific. Bollards are short posts created either as an architectural perimeter or in most cases, installed for extra protection.
Bollard designs form boundaries between pedestrians and traffic. In most public spaces these designs are installed in high-traffic areas. This ensures a barrier that physically blocks vehicle incursion which provides extra protection for people and even buildings.
In places such as central park in New York, bollard sets play a major protective role. Central Park is situated in the middle of the upper west and upper east side of Manhattan. The park can be so crowded at times that there may be no seating available for visitors and the area where it is located is a high-traffic area. Thus, the installation of bollards on the sidewalks protects everyday pedestrians from being hit by vehicles when they are out and about enjoying their day.
How Does The Bollard Provide Protection?
Bollard sets can be installed as protective separation blocks. This can be seen in bollards which are used to block off alleys, hiking and biking trails, and sidewalks from vehicles as a means of preventing fatal collisions. These bollards are much more than just architectural decoration, as they contain features such as lighting options to be visible for incomers.
Different Types Of Bollard Designs:
There are various bollard designs which can be used for many purposes, whether it be protection or decoration. Those tiny little stubs have your back! Here is a quick list of the different types of designs:
Crash Resistant Bollard
These bollards have been crash-tested to ensure maximum protection! They will take the hit before you do, and that is just how dependable they are. Crash-resistant bollards are designed in such a way that they can endure the impact of a high speeding car or a truck. Needless to say, bollards have your back.
Shallow Mount Bollard
This one is bendy and flexible. The design of this shallow mount post ensures that the bollard flexes and absorbs the energy of high-impact collisions. It is designed to have a shallow foundation which offers the potential of installing above existing utility systems or construction sites. We know! Convenient right?
Retractable and Removable Bollard
This one is ideal for allowing vehicle and pedestrian access. These bollards are an excellent design choice as they are able to be removed or retracted manually and even mechanically whenever needed. They can easily be installed and are frequently described as the best option for protection as well as temporary vehicle access.
Rising Bollard
These bollards are very frequently used. Rising bollards sometimes are used as a gate for extra security and are often seen at malls and corporate buildings. They are typically made of solid steel and grant safety because they rise and fall as a way of granting and prohibiting vehicle access.
Fixed Bollard
Fixed Bollards are set soldiers who will not leave their posts. Unlike those which are retractable or removable, the bollards are intended for long-term security and protection. Thus, a big benefit of these bollards is that the owner does not have to worry about uninstalling or removing them.
Stainless Steel Bollard
For a more aesthetically pleasing looking bollard, the stainless-steel ones are a go-to. They are made with excellent resistance to rust which grants the capacity to endure the most intimating forces of weather for steel such as rain and snow. These bollards are the best choice when you need an aesthetic exterior as well as a protective barrier.
Traffic Management Bollard:
No one is a fan of traffic, at least we are truly not. We recommend the installation of bollards for safe traffic management. These designs are commonly used to manage traffic through diversions, road closures, or partly-road closures.
The Bollard As A Traffic Safety Precaution:
These landscaping elements can act as alert systems. Bollards are essential in alerting vehicle drivers when narrow roads or highly popular places are present. This helps to maintain the flow and safety of traffic where vehicles are prevented from causing harm to people and property through collision.
The Bollard As A Security Precaution:
A very important role of Bollards in public spaces is that they provide extra safety and protection purposes. Thus, they are essential security devices which prevent accidental or intentional damage to property or people. For this reason, they are very commonly seen in public spaces such as schools, governmental offices, military bases, banks, museums, and even harbours.
Prevent Curb Parking with A Bollard Setup:
Over-populated spaces have limited parking. So, when people cannot find a decent or open parking space, they resort to mounting the curb and leaving their car there while they go do what they need to. This can be a real pain for business owners, park goers, or just pedestrians in public spaces in general, as it can take over an entire sidewalk preventing people from moving by.
Pedestrian Safety With A Bollard Setup:
In crowded public spaces, It’s important to consider your safety when crossing roads. This is because no matter the number of traffic signals, an accident can happen at any time. Therefore, the installation of bollards in public space helps prevent pedestrian and vehicle collision. This does not mean you do not have to look both ways before crossing the street just because there are bollards, however.
Why Are Bollard Rows Essential In Parks And Public Spaces?
Firstly, they create safe walking spaces. This is why in most public spaces bollards are installed as a way of controlling vehicle access to an area.
Secondly, they prevent traffic jams. Highly popular spaces are likely to have traffic jams occurring, and sometimes people may become so impatient that they drive on the curb! Bollards prevent this occurrence as they help to guide vehicles to the correct place, which is off the curb and on the road so that accidents and injuries can be prevented.
Thirdly, they can block traffic. There are many times when large disastrous accidents or road obstructions occur. In these instances, bollards may be used to keep people away from a certain area for an extended period so that traffic is avoided and rerouted.
What Is StreetScape?
StreetScape is a landscaping element manufacturer. We provide people with safe, functional, and aesthetic landscaping elements. We supply our landscaping elements such as bollards, bins, tree elements and more to the whole country of South Africa.
At StreetScape, we care about the people. So, just as you would love to safely go out to the park, sit on a bench, and relax, we want you to experience that. This is why we provide the most beautiful and high-quality bollards and benches so you are assured of safety and comfort.
We care about choices. We at StreetScape do not just want you to sit on a dull grey bench and we don’t want our parks to be scattered with stoney cold bollards for safety. No, we want none of that, which is why we provide our consumers with variety. You can pick from various colours, sizes and designs so that whatever project the landscaping element is needed for will stand out. Take a look at this list of some of the bollard designs we offer:
Taper Concrete Bollard
These are basic-built bollards. They are available off the shutter, unpainted and with an exposed aggregate finish. They are approximately 120 cm long and weigh 163 kg. These bollards are commonly used at small playgrounds as a way of ensuring safety for the pedestrians in the park from vehicle collisions
Tap Concrete Bollard
Surely you have experienced going for a jog in the park and then getting thirsty? No worries then, because StreetScape wants you to be fit and ready this upcoming summer as we assist in vanquishing your thirst with the installation of our tap concrete bollards. Our tap bollards include a push button fitting for the dispenser of water. It has a weight of 200 kg and a height of 110 cm which makes it perfect for parks or nature reserves where hike trails are popular.
Stellenbosch Concrete Bollard
These bollards come in a brownstone texture, and for a more aesthetic appeal, they also are available with chains. They weigh 146 kg and are 120 cm long. They are perfect for placing on sidewalks where pedestrians commonly walk. Often they are used near universities where students are prone to walk or parks where they tend to go for enjoying time with friends or study.
Ball Concrete Bollard
These bollards are the perfect architectural decoration for public buildings and businesses. They have a concrete stem that plants them to the ground and ensures that they don’t go rolling away. They weigh 97 kg and have an approximate height and diameter of 40 cm.
Quartet Concrete Bollard
The quartet bollard designs are a popular seller as they are manufactured from concrete and reinforced with steel. They weigh 132 kg and are 120 cm long. They are also very traditional bollard designs which originate from being installed by piers and waterfronts for the docking of boats.
Contact Streetscape:
If you would like to give your business the architectural decoration and protection it needs, then head on over to our website and get the bollards you’re looking for. Our services are professional and reliable, and we care about the health and safety of our clients. Which is why we provide them with unbeatable, affordable prices for landscaping elements of all kinds.
Going out and enjoying the brightening days should be a moment of relaxation for you. So don’t let your time outside in the park be cut short by your worries of pedestrian safety, rather invest in StreeScapes supplies today!