Bollard on Bellevue trail
Whenever I used to come across a bollard in a bike trail, I’d get the righteous feeling of ownership that this was my trail; cars cannot get in.
Now I worry that a bicyclist might hit the bollard and suffer an injury. Are bollards safe?
Not always. Experienced bicyclist Giuseppe Maino, 53, died from injuries he suffered when he struck a bollard on the Richland B&O trail in Bellville, Ohio, this week.
Maino was riding at the rear of a group of cyclists when he struck the center of three poles installed in the trail.
The Marion Star said the tragedy is causing local officials to reconsider the use of bollards. A park district director said there have been some falls and scrapes in the past, but nothing this serious.
California case
Another notable case involves Ed McLaughlin, a bicycle advocate from Chico, California, who crashed into a trail bollard on a group ride in 2007 and suffered a severe neck injury. It prompted the annual Tour de Ed that raises funds for injured cyclists in the Chico area.
I suppose the big question is whether bollards are actually necessary and, if so, how can they be made safer. As bike advocate Josh Putnam writes at Dark Bollards; Dangerous Bollards:
If we were discussing a roadway, no competent traffic engineer would consider placing unmarked telephone poles between the lanes with no additional clearance or warnings. The results would be too obvious. Yet some of these same traffic engineers will suggest placing bollards in the middle of bicycle trails with essentially no warning for the bicyclists.
According to the Marion Star, the bollard that Maino struck this week was the center of three that were set across the trail with no intersection nearby. That seems totally unnecessary.
Visibility
Visibility is a major issue.
The bollard in the photo at top was placed at an entrance to a new trail in the Factoria area of Bellevue, Wash. The metal pole itself is painted a dark green, but reflective lane markings direct bicyclists around it.
Burke-Gilman bollard
These bollards at intersections on newly renovated section of the Burke-Gilman Trail in Forest Park are white with red strips, making them a little easier to see. They also have lane markings that direct bicyclists around them.
Lake Washington loop bollard
This bike trail bollard, above, on the Lake Washington bike loop between two sections of the Lake Washington Boulevard in Newcastle appears particularly dangerous, as it looms at the bottom of a hill. The only pavement warnings are the natural speed bumps created by tree roots that push up the pavement.
Another issue is whether the bollards are needed at all.
Last month, the Seattle Transportation Department removed 14 bollards along the Burke-Gilman Trail between NW 43rd Street and NW 36th Street to improve safety for bicyclists.
It’s obviously time to take a new look at bike path bollards and consider whether they’re necessary at every location, and if so, can they be made safer.
15 comments
2 pings
Skip to comment form
You know Gene, I was recently thinking the same thing…can’t we just loose these things. I had no idea that they have a specific name. Now when I bike by them, I’ll think “Damn Bollards!”
However, as I was biking to West Seattle last week, I actually saw a guy drive up on to the West Seattle bike path on Harbor Island! Like he was somehow going to use the path as a short cut to get on to the Low Bridge. It was very odd and curious and made even more so by the appearance of five bike cops whom I suppose were out for a training ride because why else would five bike cops be on Harbor Island!
Im writing this comment from a hospital bed in St. Louis,MO. Sunday 6/16 I hit a bollard on the MCT trail near Edwardsville, IL. Six broken ribs, punctured lung, 2 fractured vertebrae, cracked helmet, bike is toast, and I’m going home tomorrow 8 days later. The road I was protected from is a broken blacktop farm access road, never seen a vehicle on it.. Understandably I used to feel protected by these hazards. By the way, still was able to maneuver a vehicle around it to get me out. Thank God for protection, good medical care and healing,
I just did the same on a Madison County Transit trail west of Glen Carbon, IL. Another unpaved farm access road. Luckily I only had a few cuts/bruises. The bike was not so lucky. However the bollard escaped unscathed.
These bollards are a hazard, I just ran into a 5″ x 3′ bollard, and was catapulted 5′ into the air and onto the pavement. Luckily I was uninjured thanks to my helmet and the soft landing of my hydration pack that prevented any serious injuries. I was only bruised in the left thigh, but yeah they can be dangerous especially if they are not painted bright red, orange, or yellow. I also noticed some were painted green which is blending into the background of the forest.
I really do not see the purpose of putting one up on small narrow bike paths, I understand the wide paths, but if the path is narrow a pole should not be installed on there. It is hard enough to navigate around a group of pedestrians.
It’s been several years since this thread appeared. I am wondering how many more accidents have occurred due to these bollards?
I will be attending a funeral service this week for a friend who died on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. He had a heart attack, but emergency vehicles could not reach him due to the bollards.
A few years ago I crashed into one in a state park where there is little or no vehicle traffic. My bicycle was spun around and I hit my head on the pavement before I knew what had happened. My helmet probably saved my life.
Last week I hit a bollard on the Erie Canal Trail that was a 4×4 piece of pressure treated lumber. It was protecting access from a farm driveway. Fortunately I was going slowly and only jammed my toe and cracked a rib. Big efforts are being made to extend the trail to off-road locations – a good effort, but it appears to be at the expense of upgrades and maintenance.
May 15, 2019 as an out of state tourist, I hit a steel bollard on the Skunk River Trail in Peoria Arizona. While on this unfamiliar trail. I made a quick maneuver to avoid a direct head on hit. Despite, I sustained cracked ribs, horrible cut on the inside of my mouth by my teeth. huge goose egg bruise on my forehead, cracked ribs, road rash to my nose lips and chin, and horrible bruises to both hands and legs. I am thankful I did not break my teeth as I hit the pavement. I am thankful my helmet avoided a cracked skull injury. I am certain had I hit this bollard directly, I could have sustained internal injuries and could have been killed. I am a very experienced rider.
We call out “Pole Jane” in honor of our friend who slammed into one and flipped over her handlebars causing a ride in the ambulance. She was riding the back of the pack and never saw it.
A week ago, I side swiped a bollard on the bike trail in Fairhaven, MA . I was lucky as the bike went over and i skidded on the asphalt. No broken bones. or gashes, but abrasions on my check ,arm, knee ,forearm and hand. Helmit was scratched on visor from asphalt, so I was glad I had properly taken the time to correctly fit it.
Now I’m wondering why the bollard ? No street but a driveway, so over engineered ? Home owner said he had witnessed several other crashes and I probably wouldn’t be the last.
You’re right. You’re not the last. I sideswiped one on the Ashuwillticook trail in the Berkshires. Lucky I was able to limp away and on the mend.
Just got released from the hospital after spending 5 days there. I was rushed in by Ambulance after hitting the so called safety bollard on the Coventry/west warwick greenway in RI.
I am an experienced biker, these bollards are dangerous and cause more harm than good especially on narrower paths. I am left with 5 broken ribs, broken toe, and various other injuries to my right side. My bike tires, frame etc are mangled – although replaceable – it was expensive and just purchased last year.
What was supposed to be a beautiful day, “pre-birthday” ride, turned into an absolute nightmare and huge expense!
I cannot believe how many people have had a similar experience.
Height is what they need. No other traffic control structure is short enough to be obscured behind a person walking or riding a bicycle.
I am currently in a rehab facility after hitting a bollard. I suffered a severe concussion, a broken leg (luckily no surgery), numerous abrasions and bruises all over my body. I spent 7 days in the hospital and will be at the rehab facility for at least a week. I am to be non weight bearing for 6-8 weeks and I have no memory of the accident. I am just so lucky that I was with my husband. The post that I hit is only about 18″ tall. The ambulance paramedics said that this is the 2nd accident at this location that they were aware of. Now just on the mend.
Author
I’m so sorry for your accident. Those bollards are crashes waiting to happen. There’s got to be a better way. Some cities used to erect posts in the middle of intersections for traffic signals. You don’t see that anymore because cars and trucks kept hitting them. Does anyone know of an option for bollards at trail entrances?
The bollard posts and narrow gates seem to have disappeared thankfully from the rail trails in Vermont. I suspect this was done to accommodate snowmobiles during the winter, but their absence is welcome, whatever the reason.
[…] more: Are bike path bollards an unnecessary hazard? » Biking Bis This entry was posted in Blog Search and tagged advocate, annual, area, big, bollards, chico, […]
[…] Are bike path bollards an unnecessary hazard? » Biking Bis […]