Dangerous Bollards at Steveston BC

Bollards can be useful to prevent cars from intruding into cycling and pedestrian areas.  However there are good and bad types of bollard, and those in Steveston, BC are the worst version that I have ever seen.

What follows is a message that I recently sent to the city, along with photos of the offending bollards.

Perhaps worth a read just in case you have something similar in your area -- or if you just want to know what 'bollards' are (see photos).

City of Richmond (Steveston)    

I am a cyclist who fairly frequently rides to Steveston and along the riverfront path.  By and large it is a very good and enjoyable bit of infrastructure for that area. However there is a serious hazard connected with it – serious enough that I have taken the time to write to you and document it with some photos that I have attached.  I am referring to the traffic/cyclist/pedestrian control bollards that are used in the area between the south end of # 1 Rd and the Britannia Shipyard. As you will see from the photos these Bollards are made from plate steel.  More importantly, it is the sharp edge of the steel that is exposed as the contact point for anything or anyone who hits them.  This is extremely hazardous.  It is without question the worst configuration for a bollard that I have ever seen. As a cyclist, my initial concern was for any rider who might collide with one of these.  This could be due to inattention, slippery road/decking, or a variety of other reasons.  But the reason really doesn’t matter.  What does is that a collision with a narrow, solid steel edge at any significant speed could easily result in broken bones or worse.  A head hitting such a bollard could easily result in death. While there are many such bollards as part of the path, the worst from a cycling perspective – since a cyclist must pass between them are at the south end of # 1 Rd, and at the curve on Bayview st., just east of the intersection with Ewen ave. Beyond the cycling hazard, it would not be hard to envision a senior citizen tripping, having a cane slip, or perhaps losing their grip on a wheeled walker.  What might start as a simple tumble could become a tragedy if they were to hit one of these bollards.  I believe that the concentrated force generated by falling against one of these would be sufficient to be fatal, particularly if the head was involved. With the rapid and continuing expansion of housing in the Steveston area the usage, and therefore the risk, will only become greater over time. I hope that it will not take a serious injury or worse to get this situation corrected. Please let me know what you plan to do regarding these dangerous bollards.  

Bollard detail

Bollard 3Bollard 2