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Bollards
Bollards are posts used to restrict vehicle traffic from pedestrian facilities. Generally, they are short, three-foot tall posts made of metal or cement, but they can take on any aesthetic, from fluorescent orange columns to large cement planters. Some bollards are retractable, allowing emergency or delivery vehicles to pass. Bollards are used to direct traffic, demarcate bike lanes, separate taxi lines from traffic, protect pedestrian space from vehicles, provide a fixture for pedestrian-scale lighting, and to highlight traffic calming devices.
In a creative application, the City of Bellevue, Washington, used bollards on a curb extension to prevent children from huddling near the curb and blocking motorists' line of sight[1]. Another creative application is incorporating public art elements into a bollard (pictured).
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ALSO ON THE LIVABLE STREETS NETWORK
REFERENCES
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PICTURE REFERENCES
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[1] Courtesy of Streets Alive.
[2] Courtesy of Australian National Botanic Gardens
FURTHER READING
- Transportation Alternatives. "Rethinking Bollards: How Bollards Can Save Lives, Prevent Injuries and Relieve Traffic Congestion in New York City." July 2007.
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