The importance of street bollards for pedestrian safety
Bollards are a key component of the UK Government’s pedestrian movement policies.
They are used to protect pedestrians in urban and built-up areas; help guide vehicles in traffic calming measures; protect shop fronts from vehicle crashes; and also, to mitigate criminal or terrorist vehicle-borne threats.
Designing and installing bollard schemes within built environments is crucial for their impact and success in protecting pedestrians and road users.
Bollards and the design process
Urban designers and city planners must ensure bollards are well positioned to increase safety for nearby pedestrians; while not interfering with the flow, movement, and comfort of such pedestrians.
The flow of pedestrian movement refers to how many people can pass a fixed point within a town or city environment. Comfort levels are determined by the amount of personal space that pedestrians have in a given area.
So, if a scheme has too many bollards this will make it difficult for pedestrians to navigate and move around, and as a result, will cause erratic pedestrian movement which potentially may increase the risk of an accident.
Urban designers must work with local council representatives and associated contractors to make objective decisions on the bollard set-up and the design of the public realm.
A review of the area should be conducted where bollards are proposed, to identify pedestrian behaviour and traffic activity. As part of these site assessment methods, specialist contractors use pedestrian simulation software to see how their designs will impact footfall and movement around the bollards.
The design professionals can then design a bollard scheme that provides a necessary level of safety from road traffic while minimising the impact on the surrounding environment.
Popular bollards for built-up projects
Landscaping and specialist security sub-contractors are being tasked by larger contractors to specify and install bollards for built-up areas.
Steel bollards are particularly popular among sub-contractors, to provide a high level of safety, and security, while also delivering aesthetics to enhance surrounding areas.
The Titan Reinforced Steel Bollard is a popular bollard which has been specified and installed throughout many town and city centres across the UK.
It offers specifiers the same visual exterior as regular steel bollards, however, it is reinforced through an internal steel core. This core means it can withstand stronger impacts from vehicles and is less likely to be severely damaged compared to other regular steel bollards.
Installation is straightforward - they are root fixed and require a shallow hole with a depth of 500mm. Contractors fill the first 100mm with Type 1 MOT Crushed Concrete (approved for use by the Ministry of Transport). Then fill the rest with concrete and install the bollard with the spigots down into the concrete to ensure it cannot be removed.
The Titan Reinforced Steel Bollard is available in a wide range of finishes, with a simple galvanised finish and any RAL colour (this carries an additional cost).
The importance of bollards
Street bollards are an important consideration within the UK-built environment. In recent years there has been an increasing urbanisation trend where more and more people live and work within town or city centres.
This trend is set to continue, especially with new legislations like protect duty that are set to be put in place in the near future and as a result sub-contractors and contractors alike are turning to bollards to protect areas such as pedestrian zones, commercial premises, and parking facilities.
For more information and to see a wide range of bollards for your project, visit our bollards product page. Alternatively, contact our team by telephone on 01625 879 442 or email us at enquiries@streetfurnituredirect.co.uk and we will be happy to help you find your perfect bollard.