Parking lots can be chaotic. With little to designate safe boundaries between vehicles and pedestrians, hazards can emerge often and without warning. Pedestrians drift between parked cars. Vehicles travel in any direction, backing in and out of parking stalls. Doors open and close. And shopping carts get left in haphazard areas.

Bollards offer an ideal means for identifying and protecting sensitive parking areas"?uhelping ensure safe and efficient interactions between vehicles and pedestrians. When spaced properly, bollards create clear, impassable barriers for vehicles while allowing the free flow of pedestrians. For comparison, continuous barriers such as fences and jersey barriers limit pedestrian access to specific entry points, which can be inconvenient, and frustrating, when hurried pedestrians must walk around.

Parking bollards protect pedestrians and buildings Bollards can also protect costly parking infrastructure"?usuch as ticket machines, officer booths and mechanical security gates"?uor other site furnishings, green spaces, exposed utilities and loading areas that can all benefit from more careful driving.

By design, bollards create highly visible barriers to direct traffic and pedestrians within a given space. Simple, bolt-down bollards offer some of the most cost-effective and easy-to-install means for planning delineations within parking lots. Their primary function is to alert vehicles to potential hazards and to ensure optimal flow in designated areas. Bolt-down bollards provide protection from shopping carts, strollers and wheelchairs if necessary. Once installed, bolt-down posts can be removed and relocated relatively easily.

 

Security posts guard building entrances. Steel pipe bollards should be used in locations requiring high impact protection. They are made from structural-grade steel embedded deep into concrete to withstand significant shocks. Steel pipe bollards protect not only against vehicle accidents but also against ram-raid, or smash-and-grab, intrusions. Use security posts to protect building entrances and storefront windows, which can be prime locations for vehicle invasions.

Plastic covers increase visibility and prevent corrosion. Post covers protect steel pipe bollards from rust and damage. Covers also establish better visibility for drivers and pedestrians"?uand are available in a greater range of materials, colors and designs to suit any building or landscape. Many covers can also be used on their own as decorative bollards or as visible barriers.

Retractable bollards control access to parking. Specialized bollards are ideal for controlling access to restricted areas or for customizing spaces for seasonal or day-to-day use. They can be effective for reserved parking areas or areas that require only occasional access by service vehicles. When in place, bollards provide clear, visible guidance to traffic and pedestrians. When removed, they allow temporary vehicle access. Removable bollards can also be detached and stored in the event of a parking lot event.

Lighting in parking lots can be a big issue for planners. When it comes to planning bollard installations, solar lighting bollards can help ensure visibility for walkways near or surrounding traffic and parking areas"?umaking for safer environments at night and in low-light conditions. Solar lighting units in particular are fully self-contained, meaning no additional trenching or conduits are required.

Children, seniors and people in wheelchairs are especially vulnerable in parking lots. Not only can they be less mobile and less aware, but they can be difficult for drivers to see. Schools, playgrounds, senior homes, hospitals and other care centers are especially prime locations for effective parking lot planning.

Quality bollards ensure aesthetics for high-end design. Buildings and landscapes should be designed not just for decoration and functionality, but also for long-term use with minimal maintenance. Quality bollards and other site furnishings should be made from top-quality materials to ensure minimal wear and corrosion"?uto keep bollards looking their best for years to come.