Barrier posts, which are often referred to as parking bollards, are those short and protective posts which are embedded in the ground for the purpose of parking lot safety. These unassuming structures protect buildings and pedestrians from car accidents. Dhillon Bros Paving, a trusted paving contractor in Richmond, incorporates the installation of these protective bollards as an integral component of their comprehensive paving services.
Bollards through Time
Let’s first discuss the history of bollards. In the early 18th century, wooden posts were reportedly used for traffic management. An early documented bollard example pertains to Hertfordshire in medieval Britain. With the advent of motor vehicles, bollards started becoming an indispensable part of any paving structure. Now, they can be commonly seen in almost all urban environments to prevent accidental collisions, manage vehicle access, and increase property and pedestrian security. Sometimes, their purpose is merely aesthetic, as owners place these to complement the visual appeal of their parking lots.
Bollards in Everyday Spaces
You can generally see these bollards in front of office walkways for customers or employees, parking lots, and storefronts. Mainly, two types of bollards are used: removable-type and non-removable or permanent-type. Removable-type bollards provide an additional advantage of flexibility to property owners. With these, property owners can control vehicle access during emergencies, maintenance work, or special events. When that event is over, bollards could be removed. They are more useful in those regions which experience seasonal traffic patterns. For example, an area having heavy snowfall can have removable-type bollards placed during snow removal.
Compared to removable-type bollards, permanent-type bollards are sturdy and can withstand long-term exposure. They are often made of steel or concrete to last long. Permanent bollards can be a visual deterrent discouraging drivers from making unauthorized or impulsive movements in a parking lot. The initial cost of permanent bollards is slightly higher than removable ones. Still, if seen in the long term, permanent bollards are cost-effective. These require minimum upkeep and would rarely need replacement.
Bollards as Creative Signage
Bollards in parking lots can also act as a sign solution. For many parking owners, it would be conducive to paint access signage onto bollards for special zones, school pick-up, curbside pick-up, reserve parking areas, disability parking, ride-share areas, etc. Sometimes, parking lot bollards can ward off smash-and-grab crimes, too, as we have seen in many news reports. For the purpose of brand recognition too, these can be used. Brands can paint their advertisement, assisting customers to immediately recognize the location.
Bollards are fixed in the ground using concrete and held tightly using a metal rod. You shouldn’t try to put them yourself. If done unprofessionally, you risk these misaligned concrete, aluminum, and steel bollards falling over, hurting people and damaging vehicles. So, expert paving contractors in Richmond should do it.
Dhillon Bros Paving has decades of experience in setting paving bollards into the ground. They are a premium paving contractor in Richmond who have executed numerous paving contracts as per locally applicable laws and regulations. You can contact their experts and witness how these life-saving fixtures can improve your parking lot.