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  • Overhead Obstacles
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Bollards

 

This is an example of poorly contrasting bollards as the bollards have a low contrast with the path against which they are viewed. This is an example of bollards that are too low and that are a trip hazard. This is an example of good bollards. They well contrasting and a good height.

The uses of bollards are varied. They can be used to control areas such as public domains, footpaths and pedestrian flow. They can also be used to protect pedestrians from potential hazards such as cars venturing onto the footpath and to secure parking bays. Although bollards are often considered to be aesthetically pleasing because they blend into the environment, inappropriate design and placement of bollards can be problematic for pedestrians, particularly for people with vision impairment.

Bollards can be considered problematic if;

• they are placed in the middle of the continuous accessible path of travel, i.e. on a footpath or on or near a kerb ramp at a road crossing.
• they have poor luminance contrast and cannot be detected visually by a pedestrian. For more information on contrast levels please see the section on contrast
• they are too short and consequently become a potential trip hazard. It is recommended that bollards are at least 1200 mm in height
• they are proliferated or over used in the environment, becoming obstructive or creating an indirect path of travel

People with good sight simply move around bollards, but people with vision impairment sometimes find bollards that are inappropriately placed or designed both frustrating and potentially hazardous.