Bollards in Europe Are On Another Level..

[@Frankon81]

Apart from protecting pedestrians. Bollards also prevent cars from parking on the sidewalk.

[@RatobornaShparg]

Yeah, I would say that most of bollards here in Europe are for preventing parking on sidewalks, especially those slim ones because they are not that tough and they are basically just screwed down to the pavement, and retractile ones are used mostly for pedestrian areas where you want to allow cars sometimes, like deliveries and such

[@andresilvasophisma]

I'm guessing it sucks for blind people though.

[@Arthur-Woolley]

⁠@@andresilvasophisma would be worse for blind people if cars were parked all over the sidewalk

[@Soken50]

​@@andresilvasophisma Why would it suck for them? It materialises the edge of the sidewalk for them and prevents cars from invading their sidewalks.

[@cynic7049]

@@andresilvasophisma Not really, they are easier to discover with a cane than a car is and also much more permanent, so easier to learn.

[@Patrik6920]

Europe: We nedd to protect pedestrians US: Pedestrians?

[@thedutchhuman]

🤣

[@nickwalters5380]

You win.

[@marcbaur677]

Also Europe: lets open borders for everyone, but we need to protect people for islamic terrorists driving trucks/cars into groups of people.

[@automation7295]

Europe: "We need to protect pedestrians" US: "We need to protect drivers"

[@Kapanol97]

What's that?

[@ScaniaR500]

On most europeans trucks, in certain types of accidents the cab is supposed to come off to protect the drivers

[@Patrik6920]

yes its acually a designed safety feature, sacrificing the truck (wich can be replaced) for a high chance of surviving ...

[@MrShadow1617]

@@Patrik6920 Which unfortunately can also backfire if the cab flies off into a crowd of peds, but I suppose that is a very rare case.

[@SuppenDfg]

@@MrShadow1617 Usually in places where a truck gets fast enough for the cab to rip off there aren't any pedestrians.

[@suicidalbanananana]

Yep, pretty much exactly what those flat-front truck cabs are designed for, collisions with low cars and bollards. Even if it looks all sorts of wrong for the cab to just fly off, instant stop would kill the person in the cab just based on the G-forces, so ehhh, fingers crossed there's nothing in front of it i guess 🤷‍♂😉

[@Patrik6920]

@@suicidalbanananana depends how fast u go and what u hit, if u like in the vide hit something that a barrier that wont move at 80km/h the deformation zone to slow the impact isent enugh .. if u watch the video on slow or frame by frame, u see insane deformation before it releases, but yes, if ur doing 160 km/h and hit a barrier thers likely enugh momentum left to totally kill ppl in a car aswell as the truck driver ..

[@michalkuban9888]

There are also natural bollards all around cities here... they are called trees :D

[@aidonwizzard7407]

and parked cars

[@Max24871]

Those are rarely planted together close enough to prevent cars from driving through in between them

[@michalkuban9888]

@@Max24871 true, but healthy combination is nice and works well... but I got your point, sidewalk trees are not dense enough if someone does not just lose control and drives diagonally a bit, when it's more direct, bollards with gaps thinner than a Smart car would be best

[@automation7295]

@@aidonwizzard7407 Cars aren't natural, cars were manufactured by people and/or robotic arms, which were also manufactured by people.

[@automation7295]

@@aidonwizzard7407 Cars don't grow on trees.

[@ianmclean6399]

Those chicago ones im guessing are around a goverment or financial building not for the pedestrians.

[@IWrocker]

You might be correct. Great point I didn’t even think of that 🎉

[@pete_lind]

@@IWrocker The wedge shaped wide barrier is for military bases and nuclear power plants, its in concrete box underground that has drainage and heating , so it work in every weather, and after being hit by big rig traveling 80km/h, it still works.

[@squidcaps4308]

Older denser cities tend to have those kind of elements a lot more. Some of it is just visual stuff, some have been proven to be necessary, some are built after they have seen it necessary near by... Population density spawns those kind of elements, not always because of pedestrian safety but still having the same effect. Government and financial buildings are often in a high traffic area for a reason, so.. stop thinking about conspiracy or "they don't care about me".. while the latter is true with financial buildings there can easily be a common sense reason: the bollards are not there because of financial building, the financial building is there because of high traffic and where there is high traffic you more commonly see bollards.

[@Ilithilich]

Those bollards in chicago are definitely to protect the building. They do not even cover the waiting area for the pedestrian crossings.

[@LordTKII]

I looked at it a bit more. Those are alle goverment buildings, the district courthouse, federal reserve bank, Chicago board of trade, etc., and on the corner of W Jackson Blvd & S Clark St the bollards move away from the road, following the shape of the building, they protect the building not the people.

[@rome0610]

In European cities bollards are mostly used to avoid cars parking on sidewalks and to limit entry to pedestrian zones.

[@McGhinch]

...and the second most usage at entries where only certain vehicles may drive onto the premises. These are the ones that can be moved down into the ground (or the cheaper ones that tilt down on the ground).

[@p3chv0gel22]

​@@McGhinchwe once had a local school install the later to prevent people from parking in the emergency access space Yeah, the building was on fire and we had to ram those down to get onto the school yard with our fire trucks, because someone thought it would be a good idea to NOT put the key for those bollards at the cabin with every other key for emergencies

[@Yvolve]

@@p3chv0gel22 People never think ahead. It is maddening. Were you able to save the building or was it a total loss?

[@petergordon4525]

Also to stop "certain type " of people driving vehicles into crowds, happened a lot in European cities

[@McGhinch]

@@p3chv0gel22 Here in Germany usually the fire fighters have the keys or remote control to these bollards. Usually is not always...afaik they must be informed and they have to permit the installation, but sometimes...

[@tonycasey3183]

We have a lot of those retractable bollards at the entrance to pedestrianised streets in the UK. They can be lowered to allow emergency vehicles access to pedestrianised areas and to allow for deliveries to shops - usually between designated hours. One of the funniest things I have seen was on a very busy day in Wakefield in West Yorkshire. The bollards had been lowered to allow an ambulance to enter and, as it passed, the crowds of pedestrians parted and then came back together again. looking up the street, a homeless man began to rise above the crowd with his arms outstretched in some crazy David Blaine style magic trick. He had stood himself on one of the lowered bollards and stayed there as it rose back in to position. Very cool and funny. At a different time, but on those same bollards, I saw a transit style van try to sneak on to the pedestrian street following an authorised delivery vehicle. It didn't quite make it on time and the whole front end was lifted clean off the ground. Those kerbstone crenelations that you saw on the edge of the Paris sidewalk are actually very effective at preventing motor vehicles mounting the pavement and/or parking on footways and cycle paths. Pedestrians and bikes can pass between them and they are way cheaper to buy and install than metal bollards that you have to bury deep in to the concrete.

[@cathulhu3772]

As a citizen of Warszawa i'm truly happy how year after year she becomes more friendly towards cyclists and pedestrians. 14 years ago i've sold my car and never looked back - imagine how it is now. Maybe that's a reason why almost everyone is so fit - infrastrukture and convenience just encourages you to move your azz. I have 9 KMs to work and I get out of tram somewhere in the middle, my wife just the same, although she has more scenic routes to choose from. Or.... we just get on a bikes and get some energy before facing clients :D

[@mrsquid_]

in germany you just have a sign that says "pedestrian zone from here on" in the middle and the rest is honor system

[@weejackrussell]

I have seen some that slide by remote control instead of retracting.

[@Pancake_Nix]

After my country joined the EU, we started closing off some city centers for general traffic. And it seems they haven't thought out the system very well, because I saw an ambulance wait at one of those entry points for over 5 minutes! They improved this over the years, but it's still not perfect. Ouch! Poor van! He'll surely think twice now when trying to sneak into the pedestrian zone. The ones I have here won't raise if they detect a car nearby, even if it's a random bloke following an authorized vehicle (before the pedestrian zone there is parking for local tenants, that also has the same descending bollard). But that means that from time to time you will get a confused tourist who's just trying to find a parking spot (it's a struggle in the town center) and getting "trapped" inside. 😅 And that story with the Homeless Blaine is hilarious! I've seen kids do it, but nothing like that. 😆

[@717379]

​@@mrsquid_This is one of the things I love about Germany 😊❤

[@MrLarsgren]

well stop means STOP.. its actually safer for the cabin to come off. remember its not speed that kill its the instant stop. the cabin coming off greatly reduce the damage of the driver.

[@papalaz4444244]

and seperates them from any dangerous load

[@diecicatorce6259]

Was that a Jeremy Clarkson quote? "Speed does not kill, it's suddenly becoming stationary, that's what gets you"

[@MrLarsgren]

@@diecicatorce6259 no its simple physics. the extreme gforce from a instant stop can destroy both brain and organs without outer damage. basically like when you see a water balloon being dropped and filmed with highspeed cameras. then imagine that water balloon travel with 70 kmh and do the same.

[@peterhoz]

Yeah it's probably a design aspect of the truck, as they don't have an absorption/crumple zone between the driver and the bumper bar like cars do.

[@MrLarsgren]

@@peterhoz actually they do. its like most european cars have. crumble zones designed to push the engine and gearbox down and to the side so it dont enter the cabin. its only in extreme cases the cabin come off otherwise the truck will absorb most of it. the cabs are so high the driver will not be affected if hitting regular cars. you should have a look at some of the safety test videos scania and volvo have. its pretty impressive.

[@omega1231]

In Denmark alot of bollards are just big granite rocks. We like rocks, unironically actually.

[@charisma-hornum-fries]

We have the type with hydraulics in front of Borgen and other public sector buildings.

[@johncenashi5117]

In Sweden (From what i know from my own town) we use big blocks of concrete or something.

[@lise1255]

And to all foreigners that don't understand the irony joke - Denmark has no mountains or natural rocks of any significance 😂 but we DO love rocks!

[@johncenashi5117]

@@lise1255 a rock in DK can be seen as the highest place. Im skånsk. I can diss denmark ❤️

[@lise1255]

@@johncenashi5117 🤣That's ok. i'm Danish, but has lived in Blekinge for the past 15 years now - because I love rocks. As Skåning you are neither Swedish nor Danish, - just Skånska, so you are more than entitled to make fun of both nationalities.

[@roepi]

In many places these things are also part of terrorism counter measures. Not just bollards but even a simple bench can be though enough to hold off a tank in areas that are prime targets for terrorism. It makes these protective measures practically invisible and so keep the city livable instead of feeling like a prison while at the same time making sure explosive loaded vehicles can't get close enough to buildings.

[@JKristofferNielsen]

In Copenhagen, the parking garage entrance to the American Embassy have those hydraulic bollards. One of the first places I noticed them. They also have the biggest, heaviest flower beds in the world in front of the Embassy. Apparently, they are meant to stop tanks...! I used to walk past it twice a day, 5 days a week, on my way to work.

[@sugoruyo]

In 10 years driving in the UK, I’ve seen 6 people try to beat the bollards. Never seen anyone win against the mighty bollard. The highlight was some bloke with an imported, lifted F150 who thought he could just go over them. He just left a trail of differential parts as he ground to a halt.

[@Pancake_Nix]

Damn, that's wild! I've mostly seen pedestrians trying to "beat the bollard" for fun and once an inattentive cyclist who almost drove straight into it, as it was raising. I alerted her to the impeding doom for her bicycle and she was just able to avoid it. But I've never seen anyone brave and stupid enough to try and test their car against one. But if I ever do, at least I know where to place my bets! :D

[@sugoruyo]

@@Pancake_Nix F150 bloke wasn't trying to beat it for fun, he was tailgating an ambulance onto a pedestrianised street that people used to use as a shortcut until the bollards were put in place, to copious amounts of righteous indignation of the local knob population. He seemed to think his ride height allowed him to pass over them but he probably miscalculated as all the mechanical parts that drive one's wheels tend to be located on the same level as the wheel's axis of rotation because... physics.

[@HittesMittes]

One part of the answer why europe has more of them is that europe saw quite some terrorist attacks where people tried to drive into people. The US doesnt have as many walkable cities and therefore not as many of that type of attack to learn from.

[@Patrik6920]

well .. its been used long time befor even terrorist attack was a concern.. in Sweden since 1930s or so, and in certain situations req by law .. looked into it historically and from about 1800 to 1900 barriers was primarly used on bridges, the modern bollard was 'invented' around the 30's when it took off in Sweden

[@HittesMittes]

@@Patrik6920 Yes of course. I said part of the answer. We had a few of them before but now we have them basicaly at every entrance of every place with annual christmas markets (Germany). They were a popular target...

[@Patrik6920]

Fun fact ... Bollards comes from old jettys with high pillars of standing wood for ship mooring

[@papalaz4444244]

We have found the racist

[@papalaz4444244]

USA has a mass shooting every day of the year

[@justinharrison9521]

Don’t know why there aren’t bollards keeping fire hydrants clear of cars in the US.

[@ThePixel1983]

Are you suggesting to restrict freedom?! /s

[@Aimless6]

Then you can't park a firetruck in front of the fire hydrant, anymore. Unless it is the removable type with the same key as the hydrant. 😁

[@pixelsupreme6824]

@@Aimless6 Just for completness sake: Lockable bollards to exist.

[@MaxSchwarz-jd2wy]

​@@ThePixel1983freedom in U.S.😂 really that brainwashed?

[@ThePixel1983]

@@MaxSchwarz-jd2wy you know what /s means?

[@stuborn-complaining-german]

Bollards for theft protection in driveways are not common. I can see those to prevent others from parking there or blocking your access though. A friend of mine lives close to the stadium in Munich, and whenever there is a game people will park wherever they can to get around parking fees. We had a SUV open the gate to the yard, drive through the entire garden and park on the back terrace once. The driveway to the garage is blocked every time. I can see him dropping one of those in front...

[@Yvolve]

The first one in a private garage seems like a case of owning a nice car in a rough area, or where there are a lot of cars thefts. It is excessive but if it stops them from stealing your Audi R8, it is a pretty good deal.

[@shadowfox009x]

Yup. I've seen bollards at apartment buildings that have outside parking spots. They often install those moveable bollards to protect the parking spot which belongs to someone living in the building. My mom lives in an apartment building with outside parking spots (without bollards) and she regularly has to tell strangers that they can't park there. All the spots are even marked either as private or with the number plate of the car that's allowed to park there.

[@knightwolf3511]

@@shadowfox009x i wonder how they pay lest in Europe when you google Security Bollards, there's no price showing. only a call us for a quote although normal concreate is around $700 there is also Manual lift ones which are probably going to be a lot cheaper maybe 1K-2K while the automatic ones 3K or more is my guess

[@shadowfox009x]

@@knightwolf3511 Not sure where you're getting those prices. I just did a quick search and you can get electric ones for around 1k, Euros of course. But that seems to be without installation. Manual ones are around 100-200€. I'm in Germany and looked at German suppliers of course.

[@knightwolf3511]

@shadowfox009x ya I did u.s. pricing but most don't give out price unless you call or email them as well as adding a company name I just googled only but ya not sure how price works in other countries but if it's for business or cost over 5k it's like please call us

[@chocokikochocokiko9555]

Europe had a fair share of trucks being used as terrorist weapons since we restrict guns like civilized ppl. They just drove it into a crowded Christmas market for example. So stopping the truck is way more important than saving the driver.

[@ChriDDel]

Now they put concrete blocks by the road. If a truck hits them, they go flying into the market.

[@annemarikruus460]

It was immigrants doing it. Nothing to do with guns

[@diedampfbrasse98]

indeed those attacks upped the game, from fairly small and weak ones able to stop a car we went to heavy duty ones able to stop trucks. And events now get heavy blocks set up as temporary barriers. But long before we went down that terrorist road we had an ongoign trend to more/heavier barriers because of drunk drivers taking out groups of people for example at a bus stop and so on. And a lot of our narrow crossroads have the bollards on the corners because of trucks dragging their trailers onto sidewalks on a turn.

[@le_zombie_du_5925]

''Promenade des Anglais'' 14 juillet 2016 à Nice

[@Fragenzeichenplatte]

> So stopping the truck is way more important than saving the driver. Another comment said the cab coming off is to protect their driver. So what is it?

[@MrFiver1111]

In Spain, not common, but I've seen at least one per building garage; you will find a parking spot that has a cut down version of a bollard, that has a hinge to lay it flat and a padlock to hold it in place.

[@michaausleipzig]

Yep, those are very common in Germany. They're the cheapest way to make sure nobody parks in your spot when you're gone. Cause it may be on a public street but you as the rightfull owner still pay a rent for it.

[@billyhills9933]

UK here. I know of a multi-story car park that has an attached block of flats. All of the spaces on the ground floor are for the flats and they all have those hinged bollards in front of them to stop people just bunging their car in the first space the see even though they're marked as not available.

[@MayYourGodGoWithYou]

A local shopping centre had them down in Nth Tipperary, they lay flat so ambulances or police can pull in and park there but otherwise keep that area clear to stop cars parking there and stopping pedestrians getting in and out of the small shopping mall. I've seen them in front of the local King John's Castle as well, pedestrians can walk in and out and contractors/employees can drive in and out by laying them flat but the castle grounds can't be used for parking by the general public..

[@maxiboitgc]

That bollard and truck must have a really good friendship, they way the truck ran up and gave the bollard a hug was cute lol

[@Pancake_Nix]

xD

[@watcherzero5256]

Couple of observations: 1. In Britain the retractable ones are often guarding pedestrianised roads, they will lower for emergency vehicles or buses but private vehicles cant access the road (or you might have restricted hours such as them being lowered at night but raised during shopping hours). Its very unusual to have them protecting your garaged car from theft like shown in the video but automated gates sometimes supplemented with bollards would often be protecting the drive ways of mansions. 2. You will 100% see them guarding any place that could be a terrorist ram-raid or car bomb target stopping vehicles getting too close to entrances. 3. In general they will be protecting pedestrians on heavily trafficked side walks or stopping motorists taking a shortcut over the pavement. 4. Those wide retractable ski-slope like ones you see in the video are often used in car parks to stop people trying to drive out an entrance rather than going through an exit barrier arm to avoid paying. Generally places you dont mind people going in one direction but want to prevent them from going in the opposite direction. You also see them at the entrance to high security buildings like Prisons/Government/Police stations/etc.. where they check ID's of people driving in to stop anyone trying to run the check point.

[@benmertens3499]

the cab braking of the truck is for safety of the driver. they are designed to snap of when in a collision like that

[@henriknykvist]

I love the bollards in central Stockholm, they're cute smiling concrete lions

[@matsv201]

To stop the truck of peace.

[@littlehills]

nicer then square block could have been nice for garden on the lion back or a seat

[@Graaskaegg]

They changed them after the terrorist attack with the truck on Drottninggatan. The ones they had were too light and were moved by the truck, the newer ones are heavyer to really stop that possibility.

[@alanmumford8806]

In the UK, the retractable bollards are often used to prevent access by non-approved vehicles to places like town centre bus routes or pedestrianised zones. Authorised users have an e-key to lower the bollard, which stays lowered for a short, preset time then goes up, regardless of anything on top of it!

[@darkiee69]

Yes, the cab went flying, as it's supposed too. That prevents the driver from being crushed by his own load.

[@Justforvisit]

Here in Europe some are also a favorite made up playground for children, like some sets of Bollards are so close to each other that you could jump from Bollard to Bollard, great way to play and practice your balance. At least I did that oftentimes as a kid when the right occassion / set of bollards showed up 😁

[@charisma-hornum-fries]

Since when did we become one country?

[@MrEifer]

Since when did he say Europe was one country?

[@CosminDuru]

Would be a great idea to be one US of E

[@pfffetc6149]

Me too!

[@danielferguson3784]

Here in the UK bollards have been around for ages, going back to the days of stagecoaches & horses & wagons, placed to protect buildings & walkways. The ground sunk ones are quite recent, & are mostly used to close of areas to traffic for part of the day, while allowing vehicular access for deliveries etc at certain hours. The retraction allows for emergency vehicles access when required. Bollards are mostly used to prevent parking on pavements, & to close off areas where vehicles are not allowed, but bicycles & pedestrians can pass through. People can & do use bollards at private properties, businesses etc, to prevent vehicular access or theft. There are simple lift up, or folding types, for use as & when required. The London, & other cities, old cannon bollards were originally real cannons, but later the design was continued in fake cannon style. The recent rise in vehicular terrorist attacks has caused Governments to increase the number, & strength, of these & other forms of barrier, particularly in central London, but also in other tourist busy places, airports, train stations etc. Nobody is likely to deliberately run at 80 MPH into a bollard, unless a crazy person or fanatic. Mostly a low speed accidental hit on a bollard would stop with much less damage.

[@leszekk.73]

In most European cities, bollards in most cases do not constitute an "armored barricade", but are intended to prevent cars from parking in specific places. For example, in front of pedestrian crossings, where cars would limit visibility. Unfortunately, many drivers ignore prohibition signs and park in places not intended for this purpose, so pedestrians' rights must be protected with such bollards.

[@toprob20]

Those smaller bollards are often used to stop people from parking on the sidewalk. But those pop up bollards are mainly used for keeping cars out, while still giving emergency vehicles and sometimes delivery vehicles or taxi's access to an area. Funny story, in my city there's a hospital (I believe Ian reacted to a video of motorcycle police escorting an ambulance to this hospital) and there used to be these pop up bollards on one end of a road leading up to it. So only busses and emergency vehicles could pass through. But they moved these bollards to the other end of that road so you'll have to approach the hospital from the other side... And for months at least one or two cars a week would crash into those new bollards! Even now years later people still sometimes crash into that bollard.

[@smiechuwarte-qt8pn]

There are also cheap versions of posts for use in home protection. You have to manually remove and insert them. They are locked with a padlock and contain reinforced concrete inside and weigh up to 20 kg in the heaviest version. They are usually placed on driveways and protect the car from theft. There are also posts made of bent stainless steel pipe in a very light version. They protect your purchased parking space outside multi-family buildings with apartments. It is assigned to the apartment you bought and protects against someone else from outside being able to park on it when it is empty

[@pegaz6529]

Around the corner from me is a bollard in front of a bus stop. A car hit it 2 weeks ago when a drunk driver lost control. The car was totalled, and the bollard got slanted with all the concrete towards the road being lifted up, but was perfectly fine. I watched the workers when they repaired it. All they did was dig out all the loose concrete around the bollard, straightened it, and poured fresh concrete in.

[@barlin4972]

10:19 You have to consider that cars (especially trucks) in european cities' aren't allowed to drive 80 km/h (the speed limit in german cities' for example is 50 km/h) and they also wouldn't be able to drive that fast with heavy traffic and narrow streets, which is often the case in crowded areas.

[@lennartstockl5826]

Just 2 weeks ago I saw some bollards safe lives. I was on my way to work and currently the train tracks are under maintenance so we have to use a replacement service via busses. On my way to the bus we have to cross a busy crossing. There are 3 lanes heading downhill towards the crossing. A van was driving way too fast down the hill towards the crossing. The right lane and left lane were blocked by cars waiting for their opportunity to turn, so only the middle lane was open. The middle lane was slightly blocked by a car that was trying to take a turn from the opposite lane. The van sped through the middle lane, turned slightly right to avoid crashing into the turning car, slid out and crashed straight into the bollards on the opposite side with a lot of people behind them waiting for the traffic lights. When I came back from work later, I saw the aftermath: One Bollard was completely gone and a second was bend 45 degrees, but they stopped a speeding van.

[@Opa_Andre]

Those electrical bollards here in Europe are rare to be seen in front of private homes to protect car theft. They are more likely in inner cities for pedestrian zones and either controlled centrally by the local authorities for accessing the area by delivery trucks or remotely for all kinds of emergency vehicles or even public transport (busses). However the US also have some kind of special bollards the Europeans don't have with extended functionality to clean up your car in case ... they are called hydrants. 😂

[@KathyWalsh-hx6hu]

Unfortunately Ian, along with traffic safety, we've had to install these in large city centres in parts of Europe due to terrorist attacks using large trucks.

[@papalaz4444244]

ok racist

[@RaduRadonys]

@@papalaz4444244 So he's racist because he mentioned terrorist attacks? I think you are the racist one, since you apparently think terrorist attacks are done by a specific race.

[@JesusSanchez-ij5de]

​@@papalaz4444244 ¿?. ¿Terrorist is a race?.

[@skasteve6528]

In the UK (like many other countries) bollards have been common for decades. There was a big increase in them from the 1990's onwards, to deter ram raiders. The increase in numbers due to terrorist threats, tended to be around government buildings, airports and tourist attractions.

[@dbs5212]

@@papalaz4444244 What? It is true.

[@kameelmohammed4683]

Where I live in the uk, there are lots of pedestrianised streets/areas and they will generally have a line of bollards blocking the entrance to those streets. But when people need to get deliveries in for their business, they have like a code that can put in and the bollards retract to let the van/lorry/truck in. They also have the retractable ones in car parks sometimes in place of the normal swing barrier things

[@djabelmw]

14:00. The small ones are there so cars can't park there. I assume.

[@raisan5989]

Translated from Dutch they are called pigs backs. They also protect pedestrians from cars that have a failing park or hand brake

[@TheBayru]

They actually can take quite some abuse, just recently a guy lost controll of his peugeot and rammed into one of those skinny poles in our street and yes the bollard got bent, but that peugeot's front was so wrapped around it he couldn't reverse and run off (those are very expensive fines, especially if you drive without insurance).

[@Monsterous_roblox]

4:00 it is nice in the Netherlands everything is build for bikes so all kids go to school on bike and adults working close enough to their work and shops, it is a main transportation middle

[@zoolkhan]

think less anti-terror bollards, and more anti-parking bollards. So in europe you see the spots equipped with bollards, where fals parking notoriously would occur. Delivery trucks and other types of inconsiderade cunts. The automatic bollards are used to allow for first responders and legitimate (shop owners in pedestrian zones) traffic through. In only a very few occations (since 9/11) it has to do with protecting someone from weaponized vehicles.

[@carpediem4091]

Nice - the city - attack made it a whole lot about anti-terrorist. Also look at the christmas markets. Beforehand there weren't any bollars installed specially for it. Nowadays they're as much a part of things as all the decor. Truth is that it started as protection from traffic and in the last couple of decades they've been popping up a lot due to the terrorists. It is what it is. Lets stop pretending we aren't changing our ways due to those bc we all are.

[@squidcaps4308]

At 20:00 .... That is a raised intersection.. That is a positive surprise, they are some of the best ways to protect pedestrians as the whole intersection becomes a "speed hump" and speeds naturally slow down. We don't have a lot of em here, they are only now being incorporated. In my town of 50k there is one, the most recent intersection that was renovated so that half of the street width is for pedestrians and bikes... It used to be so narrow that you could not walk side by side, built somewhere in the turn of the last century when horses were a thing.

[@LordOfCinder85]

Yes some of these bollards can lift cars. In a city near where my grandparents lived there were streets in the city center that were blocked off during the day. Only people who lived or worked on those streets were allowed to drive there and in some cases, public buses too. In those places there are usually license plate readers and RFID scanners to open the bollards. Once a car tried to drive through behind a bus and got straight up lifted off the ground center mass. The female driver of the car was freaking out, it was funny to look at.

[@KalleKilponen]

One of such instances (where a bollard lifted a car up) made some headlines here in Finland a few years ago, when a (then) MP tried to follow another car to the parliament parking structure and seriously damaged his Audi in the process.

[@rikardottosson1272]

In the UK you can’t do anything if someone parks in your driveway. It’s a civil matter so you can’t just have a car towed. Hence why some people get small removable bollards on their driveway to prevent people from parking there without permission, especially if they live next to a school - people make crazy decisions when late for school drop off and schools never have drop off lanes or off street parking.

[@anthonydinsdale8783]

That was hella interesting! I lived in London for 4 years in the 80s and never new what the cannon bollards were made from😅

[@tomd2917]

Think the ones shown are designed to look like the ones made from cannons but are modern castings made to look the same - well not quite they don't have the taper the real ones have - don't know if you can post a link but look up "French Cannons as Street Bollards" to see real ones/

[@MoSkent1]

Hi IWrocker ! (This is a very original subject that I see treated for the first time on YT...) In France too you can see these automatic ballards in front of taxi stations, in the parking lots of luxury buildings and garages like in the video, but especially in front of official sites that must be secure and with lots of cars coming and going...

[@Anson_AKB]

there are different purposes for bollards, and thus also different sizes and strength ... several decades ago, we had few or even none here (in germany), but when more and more cars parked illegally on sidewalks, they started putting them up. but that kind only needs to be strong enough to damage cars and drivers will stop even trying :-) and then with global developments all over the world, there are the more massive ones for important locations, where real protection is needed, including eg some mobile ones that they put up years ago when someone had stolen a truck and drove into a christmas market. those look to pedestrians only like a bit elevated cable protection at construction sites, but can stop trucks similar to the shown "mobile truck stopper" in the video.

[@telmemorem8992]

"years ago when someone had stolen a truck and drove into a christmas market." I remember that story. That was terrifying.

[@NekiCat]

They also put up concrete blocks to protect christmas markets. But those are bad, because they're not anchored down. Instead, they fly into the crowd alongside the truck... Thankfully, that hasn't happened yet.

[@telmemorem8992]

@@NekiCat Yeah, but at least something to make driver think about it two times. I have lived in Germany 2 years and I felt really secure there and traveled to Berlin pretty often. I think I will go back. Lovely country and people.

[@rtw777]

Generally, smaller bollards are anti-parking on road sides. Big ones are anti-terrorism (or accident) around larger sites, or fuel pumps etc. They can also appear as flower beds, heavy duty benches etc. Raisable bollards are for traffic control or anti-terror at gates. Small bollards on properties are often foldable and lockable to allow only the owner to park.

[@Yvolve]

Bollards are most common in major cities, smaller towns don't use them as much as there is less traffic. They're especially common in cities that became very car centric, as protection was needed. The Netherlands doesn't use them that much, as there are a lot of bike lines, creating distance between the car lane and sidewalk. There are other measures used to slow down traffic where needed, to keep the roads safe. On narrow roads, the cycle lane is part of the car lane, so cars go slower to not hit a cyclist (remember, every Dutch driver grew up cycling, there is respect). When the cycle lane is separate, there are speed bumps and/or a tall curb between the car and cycle lane. Neighbourhoods often have brick roads, which make a lot more noise, so people slow down instinctively. Th roads are just wide enough for two cars to cross, which slows people down as they don't want a crash. Pedestrians and cyclists also hear cars coming from further away. Pedestrian crossings without a zebra get an "island" in between the two lanes, making it easier to cross without traffic lights and the car has to turn to avoid the island. This slows the car down and forces the driver to pay attention. Zebra crossings are often on a big speed bump. forcing the car to slow down. Some have a sign with flashing LEDs that are activated by a sensor. If someone wants to cross, it flashes. At night, the zebra crossing is lit as well in some cases, especially on roads where people drive fast, have heavy traffic or have many side roads. NotJustBikes has some great videos comparing American and Canadian roads to Dutch ones, as well as some other European countries. The ones on "stroads" will probably make you think most about the American road network, and why walking and cycling isn't common in the US.

[@module79l28]

Most small sized cities and many towns here in Portugal have some sort of bollards everywhere inside the urban perimeter, regardless of the traffic volume. In some cases, the local authorities over exaggerate their installation, to the point that they become a nuissance even for the pedestrians.

[@Yvolve]

@@module79l28 That sounds like a waste of money and very annoying. Politicians are so stupid sometimes. A lot of the time actually.

[@module79l28]

@@Yvolve - In some cases it seems the only logic involved in the placement of the bollards was for them to be perceived by the public as being pedestrian-friendly. You know, the type of things that gives them votes.

[@Yvolve]

@@module79l28 Exactly. Personal gain is the only motivator.

[@carnac6823]

In France, it is forbidden to park near the entrances to schools (this is an anti-terrorist measure). Near the entrances to these establishments there are often bollard.

[@kalasanty433]

One place you don't see them in Europe is gas stations 😅

[@RealConstructor]

Europeans drive better, they’re not needed to protect gas stations.

[@alexanderkupke920]

Here in Germany at least sometimes there are, not exactly bollards, but like a wider barrier in front of pumps. But most times you will only see some sort of either elevated curb, or more like some kind of deflector that would push tires away from the pump. Easy to trip over those.

[@kalasanty433]

@@alexanderkupke920 I see mostly high metal curbs here in Poland

[@alexanderkupke920]

@@kalasanty433 what you see here is really different from gas station to gas station. some even include those curbs or rails into their design, like Aral where they put a thick diameter blue coated steel tube around the pumps (I think sometimes even with some integrated lighting). In other places I have seen like a steel tube frame, more like what you would otherwise find to chain a bike to. Most often just some elevated pedestals with a high curb the pump sits on, just to prevent someone from accidentially hitting the pump when not paying close attention and trying to get past the car at the pump next to it. And that is really all they protect from, someone getting to close or turning into a pump. at some speed i have seen it happen that cars crashed into the pump, despite a high curb. (I think last time close to where I live an elderly person mixed up throttle and brake and went straight into the LPG pump, which even had kind of an additional guard rail on top of the curb.) But for this I guess, actually legislation may differ across countries on how much protection is needed for those pumps.

[@KalleKilponen]

You do at least here in Finland.

[@bennyhannover9361]

We have sinkable ones in front of the university about 14 years ago, because when I was student there 30 years ago students cars were parked everywhere and the young doctorates which worked as docents did not even find place for their bicycles to park or tradesman who want to work there could not park their industrial vans. No problem today the direct entry parking lot is blocked for the right people.

[@petrpinc7695]

When terror attacks were happening around Europe 12-15 years ago and trucks were popular weapons-of-choice and cities were building big concrete barriers, Prague was congratulated by EU higher-ups for having an effective anti-terrorist measure. All of the bollards and railings placed around the streets, town-squares and infront of airport to limit parking and car-access to pedestrian-only zones and limit pedestrians from crossing a road. It was just so funny it was found to be such a genius idea. The Office congratulations meme template fits here.

[@EldarsLab]

In Germany a few years ago a semitruck was used to drive into people visiting the christmas market in Berlin. After that a lot of cities installed more of these raisable bollards near markets and other places for events with lots of pedestrians. But since they are raisable only when needed, they are also installed into streets leading to those squares,, not just along sidewalks.

[@TheBayru]

Believe me, every city police department makes a montage of drivers failing to aknowledge moving bollards caught on cctv. About half an hour of footage every year, very entertaining.

[@Judith_Remkes]

Used to work in a corner shop, next to a street that got closed off to car traffic. It was still open for buses and police etc. They placed a bollard that would retreat into the ground when a bus or police/fire/ambo came close enough. Sometimes, people thought they could make it if they follow the bus closely enough. Nobody ever made it. The bollard would come up just as the car would start to go over it and ram the engine. The bollard was actually removed for a while because it kept destroying engines to such a degree that the engine fluids leaking into the ground were becoming too expensive to sanitate... Long story short: I've seen dozens of cars standing almost upright on their rear wheels with the fronts pushed up by a bollard.

[@micade2518]

Hi Ian, about how much pedestrians are ignored in the USA, you might enjoy watching this: "Why City Design is Important (and why I hate Houston)" - Not Just Bikes

[@MugiwaraRuffy]

Fun fact: Chicago has been the only U.S. city I (as a German) have ever been to. And it really blew my mind how bicycle and pedestrian friendly is was. I honestly did not expect that. From what I recall, the more frequented, pedestrian heavier areas have been in River North, not sooo much in the Loop Area. For me the default modus operandi was to walk basically everywhere if it was in a 2km (or ca. 1.5mi) radius. Or took a share bike from the many rental points, basically almost every other block. And that was back in 2015, mind you.

[@InternetD1991]

Canon vs car. Canon win, always.

[@MichaelBurggraf-gm8vl]

In my area (small town in South Germany) a set of retractable bollards is used to allow busses of public transport and rescue vehicles to pass through. All other traffic, however, gets blocked.

[@seijika46]

Safety of Wal-Mart and petrol is more important than humans? Only in the USA...

[@EfficientRVer]

At the "petrol" stations, it is to prevent hitting the pump and causing a big petrol fire.

[@Mapaed]

In Europe - there are many different types of bollards - they serve different uses. First use - it is: Cars don't even think about parking (even stopping) here. Or Driving into this street / walkway. On that spot - that area. Second: Closing down some streets for cars passing through. Just stay on the destinated roads - no short cuts through residental streets. Third: You saw that bollard(s) going up and down. Mostly used to block pedestrial zones - mostly in city centers - but letting public transport (mostly busses) pass. Bus coming - bollard goes down - bus passes - bollard goes up. Cars aren't allowed to pass. Or blocking of an area like the location of the Munich Oktoberfest - but letting emergency vehicles entering that area at any time (if they have the "remote"). And being open at night for supplies - by truck. Fourth: The bollards are used to block cars, trucks and else to drive into a building. And - especially in Europe - you can even say in which country you are by looking at the type of bollards. Those "cannon-like" bollards are typical of the U.K.

[@josiecoote8975]

Here in the UK, a lot of supermarkets have them around to stop ram-raiders, ie people who drive into the windows/glass doors and smash them to gain entry and steal things on a large scale.

[@gerbentvandeveen]

I work at a Prefab concreet factory. And the rest concreet wy make concreet legoblocks. And the are olso for Festival 's protectie. At 1.3 ton a legoblock.

[@erraldstyler]

how much are you selling these for? asking for a friend

[@MrJimheeren]

@@erraldstylera couple 100 per piece. Plus trucks are expensive

[@hempel3953]

The concrete blocks are very bad for protection.

[@femkevanwageningen6068]

Dezelfe als die je vaak bij constructie van wegen ziet? Waar de gebouwde weg ophoud bvb

[@wessltov]

​@@hempel3953 That may depend on the quality of the concrete. It sure as hell beats plastic stopping blocks though

[@_asphobelle6887]

Where I live automatic bollards like 6:50 are often used to bar streets in pedestrian-only areas, in a way that still allows entry to emergency services, deliveries, and local residents. I've never seen them on private property, but then this is usual for individual houses to have their property entirely fenced with a portal for entry, so they don't need a bollard on top.

[@CriticalityIncident]

IWrocker: Posts a video about bollards. Me, a Geoguessr player: Clicks immediately 😀

[@gerbentvandeveen]

It's a safety ting that the cab flighing. That is normal.

[@cibucikel]

Exactly that's by design to save driver in accident scenario

[@davidcruse6589]

G'day Ian We use these in Oz For protection of street Cafe's patrons Also used to stop ram raiders at night on business Same to stop people accidentally hitting wrong pedal and going through business So Al. Public area where business are have them mandatory now days We also use large concrete containers filled with soiled and plants grown in them They can weight a tonne or more so there more aesthetic then bollards But only where space permits Cheers mate 🦘🇦🇺👍

[@theoteddy9665]

haha a new word to my vocabulary😂 bollard

[@winterlinde5395]

Did you hesitate for a moment whether you click the video or look the word up, first? I did😊

[@dan_kay]

Then here is another one: Poller. That's "bollard" in German. Sounds similar, means the same :)

[@booboss]

I clicked the video because I didn't know what bollards are and then checked in Google Translator (actually DeepL but americans would not understand).

[@chassetterfield9559]

When I worked in Cambridge, there were automated rising bollards to keep cars out of the City Centre between 10:00 -18:00. Emergency services, buses & taxis could gain access during that time. They had a radio 'tag' on the front & rear bumper, which triggered the bollard to drop, allowing access. Of course, some 'clever' people thought that they could tail-gate a permitted vehicle through the barrier. One day I was sitting in the pub, waiting for the bus, to go home. Someone tried tailgating a taxi through the barrier, but it rises VERY quickly. It didn't lift the car up, it rose through the gearbox & engine [ FWD ]. When they came to clear the wreckage, they pressed the button to lower the bollard again, which happened, but the car could not even be pushed out of the way. The transmission was pulped, and totally locked up. I'd bet they didn't try that again.

[@bobogliddabrun]

This video is utter bollards mate!

[@freo_8927]

Hi! Congratulations, you do a great job! I am Italian, regarding bollards this is because our cities have narrow streets and cars want to park everywhere... even on the sidewalks

[@Muck006]

Please react to the "Fire Departments kill people" video from Not Just Bikes.

[@rasmuswi]

I had to watch it, and now I'm in shell shock. Institutional stupidity can really reach insane levels!

[@uncle_matula]

those thinner posts are more to prevent parking on the pavements, obviously they also provide some protection

[@MsDiaEmms]

09:53 Europeans remember the terrorist attacks in Nice or Berlin around 2015. Maybe there were some insured people with metal parts flying around. But too many people actually died because of trucks driving into the crowds. 😢

[@patrikmatej2949]

did you say ....many many meters ? omg you are one of us! Lisan Al-Gaib!

[@EightPawsProductionsHD]

Boll-ard as in the word hard, not bollurds as in the word turd.

[@IWrocker]

Admittedly that sounds better. Thanks for the correction 🎉

[@waynelowe3329]

I was going to say the same thing it sounded weird the way they pronounced them lol.

[@boam2943]

If I am not mistaken those @12:00 are used to prevent unauthorized access to restricted buildings like embassy, military buildings, etc. Usually only the yellow part is visible and they retract underground (toward the vehicle) to allow passage. They are very rare because, usually, you do not have a path/street long enough toward the entrance of those buildings to get enough momentum to get pass bollards or the other yellow slice, so those are usually used instead.

[@marcbaur677]

Some Bollards are there, mostly for Christmas Markets, to avoid that some people with a specific religious background, dont drive into a mass of people.

[@dabartos4713]

oh you mean when they started driving into crowds of people whilst shouting allahu akbar?

[@ianross210]

The US manufacture some of the most effective high speed rising bollards protecting military sites and embassies around the world. They rise in milliseconds and have a lip at the top that prevent cars/trucks riding over the top of them. Security wise there are rising step barriers that are awesome.

[@automation7295]

I wouldn't be surprised if the US banned retractable bollards.

[@vonsauerkraut]

Never mind the bollards.😆

[@norbertschrank3331]

Made my day! 😂

[@GlobBlubb]

Those thin bollards mostly prevent cars from parking there. The areas they are placed in don't need heavy duty ones because cars don't go that fast on those streets. The speed limit is usually around 30km/h which is about 16½mph or if go into a pedestrian area like the central area of a town the speed limit is walking speed or 10km/h (5½mph). At those speeds the thin bollards are enough to stop a car if need be

[@richardhltrp1791]

first Dutch guy 1

[@lukasgroot]

Verdomme, te laat

[@DamocMetalFever]

One of the most funny things I saw around bollards: There was a trafic light with retractable bollards in front and a sign stating that you must wait until the bollard is fully retracted before going... There was an impatient driver who did not wait. The bollard did not care. It tore off the front of the car, ripped off with an ominious noise. Next time, head the sign :p

[@manero170869]

They also prevent shoplifting, many of these thefts occur with a car that, reversing, breaks the shop window and literally enters it. The second phase involves the actual thieves, who were in the car or waiting at the sides of the window, they enter and in a few minutes take everything they can and fill the trunk of the car, then escape undisturbed.

[@gundalfthelost1624]

One of these bollards actually saved my life not too long ago. I was on the sidewalk in my town here in Sweden, checking my phone and not really paying attention. I don't notice anything until a 2014 Ford Fiesta smashes into the bollard right in front of me. No more than a step away. I got hit by pieces of glass/plastic from the headlights. Behind me was just a wall. I don't even wanna imagine what the outcome without the bollard. The driver had a medical emergency and passed out behind the wheel.

[@daveofyorkshire301]

The real reason for bollards is to prevent ram raiding - the activity if using a car or van to drive through a shop front to steal, the other reasons are secondary, justified by secondary. It's so successful and so rare now bollards are being rebranding. There are also hydraulic bollards buried deep in the ground to be raised when needed, and timed bollards to restrict access.

[@JoriDiculous]

A lot of the 'sidewalk' bollards are to stop car bombs entering the premisses, like a pub. The cab is designed to fly off to protect the driver. Just like crumble zones in cars. It might be a problem if you crash like that on a road with with a deep cliff side ...

[@Michael-kt6gi]

Very interesting video, nice one Ian.

[@mururoa7024]

It makes sense to install a bollard in front of your garage not to prevent others from driving in, but to prevent your expensive car from being stolen.

[@MickeyStartraveller]

In Hungary a lot of these are just hollow tubes that can't protect anything. They end up broken or flattened on a daily basis. Freshly destroyed sidewalk bollards are a very common sight.

[@Yominokun1]

As others have mentioned, many bollards are just to stop cars from entering/parking, but not necessarily to stop something in it's tracks like the more heavy duty ones. There's even bollards which are just a flexible plastic, meant to be ran over by emergency vehicles, so they just need to drive over them slowly, and they spring back up when the vehicle has passed. Those are basically like a sign, but a bit more effective since you're clearly driving somewhere you shouldn't be. And the emergency vehicles don't need to stop, pull them out/lower them and put them back, losing less time.

[@SarahH-ns6ly]

About 25 years ago when I was living in Cambridge, UK, we heard about someone who destroyed their engine driving over rising bollards in a street where private cars aren't allowed. The bollards punched right through the engine apparently. On a side note, in Oz we have bollards as well as massive concrete planter boxes, which are a bit more aesthetic, protecting pedestrian spaces.

[@bjørnjacobsengaming]

Before 9/11 we never saw them in Denmark, only in front of pedestrian streets to prevent cars from driving there. Back then, terrorism was not thought of at all. After 9/11, there were many more, especially after the terrorist attacks that were in London, Paris and other places in the major cities of Europe, where cars were used deliberately to run people down, and these were typically places with a lot of people, such as pedestrian streets and market squares. There are also many in front of shopping centers, but they also did not come until after 9/11. There was also a period in the 00s when it became very popular to use cars for hit-and-run raids, and in that connection there were also more.

[@timokampwerth1996]

I saw a video from some american guy the other day getting Bollards installed in his driveway so nobody steals his cars. He was super proud and was raving on about how they can take some 400+ pounds of impact force before bending and like a thousand before they're torn out of the ground and stuff like that. I was reminded of that video when I walked into work the next day and saw the scratch on the Bollard that stopped an 18-wheeler 2 weeks ago.

[@GeweerBeer]

Fun fact about European lorries: The cabs are made to fall off in a crash. Since our lorries don't have noses, there's not much room for crumple zones, so the cab just snaps off. It's got tons of airbags and other safety features to ensure the driver isn't hurt (too badly) incase this happens. Ofcourse there are other safety systems in place to ensure this doesn't happen in the first place

[@meticulousgeek]

In the US, the pedestrians *are* the bollards.

[@linabmoniz]

In Lisbon, in the historic areas, where only residents are allowed to circulate, there are these ballards. When we approach, there is an intercom that allows us to identify ourselves. If we have permission, Ballard will come down and we will pass, otherwise we will go back. Initially I saw some cars that were lifted.

[@martinpoulsen6564]

They are used for all sorts of reasons. For traffic control, to prevent terrorist attacks, shop/ bank heists with vehicles etc. Basically, if you don't want a vehicle coming through: put up bollards. Whether they're steel, trees, granite or whatever.

[@marisavl1]

All my city have bollards around the old center. It’s an old city , more than 2000 years old Heritage and my house is situated just in the center, cars are forbidding except the people who live into Historic Center , we have ours distance key when we want go to our garage, bollards open automatically and close after pass or in the morning, for markets or shoppings are open 2 hours. Since Lugo or Lucus Augusti, NW Galicia Spain, have a very good weekend

[@hanes2]

Yeah they have it in a. A lot of towns. And they go up and down for emergency vehicles or limited time delivery. Like Amsterdam has them down in the morning for delivery trucks., then at like 10am, if you ain’t out, your car is stuck and sucks to be you

[@MaryBradley-s3s]

Windsor Castle has retractable bollards and some governments buildings. And some shopping centre's. And bridges over river Thames have bollards because of terrorists attacks. Horse Guards Parade aswell. Certain pavements/ sidewalks to stop people parking on pavements. Is a good thing to be honest stops a lot of issues. 🇬🇧

[@bastiwen]

We have have a bollard in front of the parking area where I work (one of those that goes into the ground) and when I starting working there they warned me to wait for the light to turn green before going and to not try to go after someone else activated it because apparently someone tried to sneak into the parking lot after another employee went in but the bollard went up, lifted the car and absolutely wrecked the underside of it. Ours is activated by calling a number so that way only the authorised personnel can enter and there's no remotes that youo can hand to other people.

[@projectoasis582]

At 15:00 min is Hamburg, my hometown! Did you know that Hamburg has 2500+ bridges which is more than Venice, Amsterdam and London combined! If you ever make it to Germany please visit Hamburg ✌🏼 People from Hamburg (me included) will not be shy to call it the most beautiful city in the world. Love your videos ❤

[@henriks5008]

Fun fact. Most retractable bollards still work perfectly after a 5 ton truck at 80 km/h crash.

[@HrLBolle]

In Germany multi flat houses can have "private parking" spaces within a pre-existing streetside parking spot, those allotted spaces will be secured with locked bollards, normally one per flat