HUB Position: Rigid Bollards

The purpose of this document is to outline HUB Cycling’s position on the use of rigid bollards. These are short posts securely mounted on the ground often made out of steel and/or concrete. Rigid bollards are placed on bike paths and multi-use paths to discourage motor vehicle access. 

 

Negative Impact of Bollards

While rigid bollards can be effective at limiting motor vehicle incursion if used correctly, they are a safety issue for people cycling. Research by Cycling in Cities found that the risk of a crash for people cycling increased with infrastructure on the path such as rigid bollards. Riders can catch their handlebars or pedals on them, or just crash right into them. The hazardous nature of rigid bollards increases when people are unable to see what is in front of them, which occurs at night, when riding in groups or when approaching the bollard from a corner. The new BC Active Transportation Design Guide recommends that rigid bollards should be avoided. Other publications, such as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ (AASHTO) Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities recommend that rigid bollards should only be used as a last resort.

 

Recommendation 1: Best practices to discourage vehicle access on paths without using rigid bollards

Signage primarily directed at people driving should be used and should clearly indicate that the pathway is for active transportation users only, not motor vehicles. The design of the entrance to the pathway should also clearly show that it is not a road for unauthorized motor vehicles. A center island or divided pathway allows path users to pass through while restricting motor vehicles, as illustrated below.  Flexible bollards serve a similar purpose to rigid bollards, while being much more forgiving in the event of a collision.

 

Divided pathway on Adanac bikeway at Hawks Avenue (Vancouver, BC)
Source: Google Street View

 

 

 

Signage noting no entry for motor vehicles 12th & Yukon (Vancouver, BC)
Source: Google Street View

 

 

A multi-step program can be used to limit vehicle incursion before resorting to rigid bollards, as recommended by The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The first two stages are posting signs and designing the path entrance to discourage vehicle access. For the third step they note: 

“Assess whether signing and path entry design prevents or reduces unauthorized traffic to tolerable levels. If motor vehicle incursion is isolated to a specific location, consider targeted surveillance and enforcement. If unauthorized use persists, assess whether the problems posed by unauthorized vehicle entry exceed the risks and access issues posed by barriers. Where the need for bollards or other vertical barriers in the pathway can be justified despite their risks and access issues, measures should be taken to make them as compatible as possible with the needs of bicyclists and other path users.”

If the measures outlined above are not having the desired effect on reducing motor vehicle incursion into the pathway, then rigid bollards as described in Recommendation 2 can be considered. Every attempt should be made to avoid the use of rigid bollards, and the safety risks to people cycling and other users should be carefully weighed.

 

Recommendation 2: Limit likelihood of collisions where rigid bollards must be used

 

If rigid bollards are implemented, these guidelines should be followed:

• Bollards should be reflective to improve visibility especially in low light and limited visibility situations
• Add a triangle and striping around the bollard to alert users to the presence of an obstruction on the pathway and guide path users around it
• Ensure rigid bollards are at least 10 metres away from intersections allowing users to navigate around bollards before entering the intersection 
• Avoid any extra features beyond just a post, such as rings. These are not only an additional hazard, but can also encourage people to lock objects to the post, increasing the hazard 
• The base of the bollard should be flush with the ground/surface to limit an additional hazard if the bollard is removed

HUB Cycling’s mission is to get more people cycling more often. Improving safety for active transportation users, including people cycling, will help make cycling more attractive and comfortable.

 

Above Image: Bollard with painted diamond.  Source: BC Active Transportation Design Guide

 

Sources:

Teschke, K., Frendo, T., Shen, H. et al. Bicycling crash circumstances vary by route type: a cross-sectional analysis. BMC Public Health 14, 1205 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-1205

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. (2019). British Columbia Active Transportation Design Guide.

American Association of State and Transportation Officials. (2012). Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities (4th Edition). Retrieved from http://imentaraddod.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/AASHTO-GBF-4-2012-bicycle.pdf

American Association of State and Transportation Officials. (2012). Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities (4th Edition). Retrieved from https://njdotlocalaidrc.com/perch/resources/aashto-gbf-4-2012-bicycle.pdf