01555271

Component

In this study, the authors focused on rising bollards, which allow selective traffic on regulated public roads using one or more bollards that move up and down. Bollard systems, which are used in many European countries, were originally developed to guard against terrorism but have led to new traffic problems in countries where they are used. The authors conducted surveys in several municipalities in European countries to identify the advantages and disadvantages of rising bollard systems and solicit suggestions for improving rising bollard systems. The results of the survey reveal that rising bollard systems are effective in reinforcing traffic regulations in city centers but that many authorities face difficulties related to collisions with bollards by unauthorized vehicles that violate traffic regulations. To address this problem, the authors developed a new type of rising bollard that is soft and flexible. When a vehicle collides with this type of bollard, the bollard does not damage the vehicle and does not break; it bends so that the vehicle can pass over it. A social experiment was conducted to test the effectiveness of the system. The results of the experiment show that the soft rising bollard system was effective in encouraging vehicles to obey a traffic regulation that prohibited vehicles from using a road during certain hours of the day. The results suggest that the soft rising bollard system developed in this study could be a new tool for traffic control on pedestrian-friendly roads.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHB50 Traffic Control Devices.

01550057

15-0351

English

15p

2015

Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; References; Tables

Ambulances; Barriers (Roads); Pedestrian areas; Pedestrian safety; Safety equipment; Traffic calming; Traffic control devices

Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2015 Paper #15-0351

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 30 2014 12:15PM