Cycling UK Forum

Nearholmer wrote: ↑6 Jun 2023, 2:38pm Prompted by this thread, and MJR I particular, I became “bollard critical” today when I popped out on an errand.

The more I look, the more I’m mystified by some of the ones that I’ve simply navigated round and not thought about before, most particularly, on the approach to bridges.

Several small bridges over streams and rivers on my trip, and they’ve all got at least one bollard bang in the middle of the path at the entry and exit to the bridge. Why? The more I think about it, the less I can see what purpose the serve; it’s quite bizarre. Worst still, one recently re-decked bridge now has the stupid little, half-invisible ones as per the OP, rather than nice, big, yellow ones, which at least are prominent.

Bmblbzzz wrote: ↑6 Jun 2023, 3:28pm

Nearholmer wrote: ↑6 Jun 2023, 2:38pm Prompted by this thread, and MJR I particular, I became “bollard critical” today when I popped out on an errand.

The more I look, the more I’m mystified by some of the ones that I’ve simply navigated round and not thought about before, most particularly, on the approach to bridges.

Several small bridges over streams and rivers on my trip, and they’ve all got at least one bollard bang in the middle of the path at the entry and exit to the bridge. Why? The more I think about it, the less I can see what purpose the serve; it’s quite bizarre. Worst still, one recently re-decked bridge now has the stupid little, half-invisible ones as per the OP, rather than nice, big, yellow ones, which at least are prominent.

Presumably because the bridges are constructed to take the weight of foot and cycle traffic, maybe horses too, definitely not motor vehicles. Yes, I know MVs shouldn't have access to these bridges, but that doesn't mean they actually don't.

As for the design of the bollards themselves, I think in many cases it's a misguided attempt at "blending in with the environs", particularly in rural and/or historic surroundings.

Bmblbzzz wrote: ↑6 Jun 2023, 3:28pm

Nearholmer wrote: ↑6 Jun 2023, 2:38pm Prompted by this thread, and MJR I particular, I became “bollard critical” today when I popped out on an errand.

The more I look, the more I’m mystified by some of the ones that I’ve simply navigated round and not thought about before, most particularly, on the approach to bridges.

Several small bridges over streams and rivers on my trip, and they’ve all got at least one bollard bang in the middle of the path at the entry and exit to the bridge. Why? The more I think about it, the less I can see what purpose the serve; it’s quite bizarre. Worst still, one recently re-decked bridge now has the stupid little, half-invisible ones as per the OP, rather than nice, big, yellow ones, which at least are prominent.

Presumably because the bridges are constructed to take the weight of foot and cycle traffic, maybe horses too, definitely not motor vehicles. Yes, I know MVs shouldn't have access to these bridges, but that doesn't mean they actually don't.

DaveReading wrote: ↑6 Jun 2023, 4:07pm I wouldn't have thought it beyond the wit of man to design something that would function as an obstacle to motor vehicles without impeding the passage of cycles. Is it really that difficult?

mjr wrote: ↑6 Jun 2023, 3:50pm

Bmblbzzz wrote: ↑6 Jun 2023, 3:28pm

Nearholmer wrote: ↑6 Jun 2023, 2:38pm Prompted by this thread, and MJR I particular, I became “bollard critical” today when I popped out on an errand.

The more I look, the more I’m mystified by some of the ones that I’ve simply navigated round and not thought about before, most particularly, on the approach to bridges.

Several small bridges over streams and rivers on my trip, and they’ve all got at least one bollard bang in the middle of the path at the entry and exit to the bridge. Why? The more I think about it, the less I can see what purpose the serve; it’s quite bizarre. Worst still, one recently re-decked bridge now has the stupid little, half-invisible ones as per the OP, rather than nice, big, yellow ones, which at least are prominent.

Presumably because the bridges are constructed to take the weight of foot and cycle traffic, maybe horses too, definitely not motor vehicles. Yes, I know MVs shouldn't have access to these bridges, but that doesn't mean they actually don't.

The bridge end bollards are put in regardless. One bridge near me has them, but if a motorist is determined enough to drive through a metal gate and a tight S bend to the south or at least three substandard tight-spaced bollards (concrete and steel IIRC) to the north, one wood bollard on each end of the bridge won't be a significant obstacle!

Agree about the wrongheaded "blending in" idea being the most likely reason for stealth bollards.

Bmblbzzz wrote: ↑6 Jun 2023, 4:53pm It could even be an insurance requirement. Or if not a requirement from insurers, a requirement by council lawyers against the prospect of insurers being wriggly. Either way, some form of buttock covering.

Nearholmer wrote: ↑5 Jun 2023, 11:04pm I reckon there is a good case to standardise cycleway bollards though, because provision seems to be utterly random currently, and Sustrans seems to be implicated in some of the less good ones - a bit too tasteful and rustic, and nowhere near visible enough.

Hereabouts (Milton Keynes) there is a standard, and it seems to be a good one, the bollards being about a metre high, 100mm diameter, and a good bright yellow. Everywhere should copy! Especially nearby Buckingham, which has some really stupid low, black ones that are an invitation to a crash, or tripping over.

mjr wrote: ↑6 Jun 2023, 12:53amIf so, that would be a good reason for posts.

Nearholmer wrote: ↑6 Jun 2023, 6:33pm Do distinguish though, between “are the bollards any good?”, and “are the bollards well positioned?”.

I’d still strongly defend the standard MK bollard as good. It’s simple, presumably cheap, and highly visible. A heck of a lot better than any others I’ve seen (or, in some cases barely seen at all).

Positioning is a whole other subject, and there are well-positioned ones, bizarrely positioned ones, and a tiny few dangerously positioned ones in MK.

The worst of the lot are bollards that are badly designed AND badly positioned, and I guess we can all think of examples that score -10 on both axes.

Nearholmer wrote: ↑6 Jun 2023, 6:33pm Do distinguish though, between “are the bollards any good?”, and “are the bollards well positioned?”.

I’d still strongly defend the standard MK bollard as good. It’s simple, presumably cheap, and highly visible. A heck of a lot better than any others I’ve seen (or, in some cases barely seen at all).

Positioning is a whole other subject, and there are well-positioned ones, bizarrely positioned ones, and a tiny few dangerously positioned ones in MK.

The worst of the lot are bollards that are badly designed AND badly positioned, and I guess we can all think of examples that score -10 on both axes.

Now, here’s a really weird hazard to cycling, of which we have a few in MK: a 500mm high solid concrete pyramid, the bollards in this case being there to warn people of its presence as they come round an otherwise blind corner from the right:

9338C2BE-D6E1-4C27-AABD-1BB14EB54B4A.jpeg

I’m not totally sure what these blasted pyramids are, I think some sort of benchmarks to do with surveying, but the ones in the middle of cycleways should be dynamited!

I think you will find that most fail the good positioning and are not needed.