Tech talk: 19 beautiful ways to protect bikelanes (photos)

Cement globes make an artful form of physical separation in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

In the grammar of street design, bollards — those plastic posts that are used to block cars fromentering many protected bike lanes — are the commas.

They're simple. They're versatile. They help organize complex traffic situations. And they're oftenused incorrectly with no real consequence.

Modern protected bike lanes come in different shapes, styles and configurations. What makesthem unique is the presence of some type of physical barrier between moving bikes and cars.Physical barriers for better bike lanes span the spectrum from temporary to permanent, fromhomely to beautiful, and from practical to whimsical.

Though bollards themselves come in many varieties, simple white ones have become the mostpopular choice thus far for American cities, due to their visibility, low cost, and ease of installation.

But white posts are only the beginning. Street designers think of them as a rough draft; a way ofmarking the space and testing how the street works. Flexibility is important in early design phases,so that the street is fine-tuned when the time comes to commit to a more permanent installation.What that ultimately looks like depends on many factors: budget, flexibility with design guidance,local experience, climate, maintenance practices, contextual aesthetics, and community priorities.

The good news is that when it comes to creative street design, the sky’s the limit. As protectedbike lanes inch toward mainstream in America, we expect to see a surge in creativity for definingspace on our streets. Curbs, fences, potted plants, a soldier’s leg, even places to sit and read thepaper; all are being used to create a safe and pleasant places to ride a bike.

At their best, they clearly and safely organize the street, reflect the local character of theneighborhoods they move through and put a “you are here” stamp on the urban environment thatadds social and economic value.

Here are some other examples, both memorable and mundane, we’ve seen around the world:

Basic bollards in San Francisco, California

The rough draft of physical separation.

Half-wheels in Seville, Spain

These convey motion and direction, while interacting easily with pedestrians.

Row planters in Vancouver, British Columbia

Photo by the Calgary Herald.

Parked bikes in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Now that's an efficient use of space.

Public seating in New York, NY

This probably wouldn't work without the big planters, too.

Zebras in London, UK

England invented the zebra crosswalk; these small humps extend the theme. Also spotted (orwould that be striped?) recently on Washington DC's Pennsylvania Avenue.

Public art in Odense, Denmark

In Odense, Denmark, the birthplace of poet Hans Christian Andersen, a statue of a one-leggedcharacter from Andersen’s story "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" stands in a neighborhood mini-plaza.Nearby, bollards define a protected bike lane and depict, naturally, his missing leg.

Trees in Boulder, Colorado

Grass and trees in Copenhagen, Denmark

High fence in San Francisco, California

Low fence in Seville, Spain

Rounded curb in Tilburg, Netherlands

Sloping curb in Portland, Oregon

The higher the curb, the harder it is for a biker to jump in or out of the lane for an errand, a pitstop or a chance conversation. This painted sloping curb sets a clear boundary without actuallyblocking bike tires.

Houseplants in Kansas City, Missouri

This was part of a temporary Better Block demonstration project.

Landscaping in Coronado, California

Modular curbs in Austin, Texas

Short thick bollards in New York, NY

Good ways to separate bike and pedestrian traffic could be a post of its own.

Just parked cars in San Francisco, California

Got any favorites? Have pictures to share of your favorite bollards and other ways of creatingseparation? We're always on the hunt. Send to zach@peopleforbikes.org.

The Green Lane Project writes about the ways cities are building better bike lanes. You can followus on Twitter or Facebook sign up for weekly emails of our latest news here.

This article has been published Zach Vanderkooy , Green Lane Project program manager, on04.10.2013, at the following URL: http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/tech-talk-19-

beautiful-ways-to-protect-bike-lanes-photos