Bell type bollard

CoolRob

My question is why don't the council, if they're going to put a bollard there, at least make an attempt to make it visible. It could have been a pole so it's more visible. You have to keep tight to the corner as you emerge so as not to encroach into the oncoming traffic from the left on the other side. I just feel that the council have stuck that there knowing that it would cause issues, but not caring. You're probably right though there's probably not a lot I can do about it.

oldernonethewiser

I suspect that part of the reason it is not a pole is that it is close to the building and designed to stop anything potentially damaging that, as well as protecting the safety of pedestrians.

You can write to the council and ask for their reasoning.

CoolRob

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057483#Comment_82057483

I have no problem with the bollard being there. Just the fact that is was invisible from my driving position. Some of them have a pole next to them to make them visible

oldernonethewiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057546#Comment_82057546

Invisible? So you can't see the edge of the road/start of the pavement from your vehicle?

knightstyle

We have the same bollards here in Grantham to protect pedestrians and we often have major holdups when lorries get stuck on them. They are painted white regularly but look at all the black tyre marks on them.

Car_54

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057556#Comment_82057556

Indeed. The OP said it was a new van: some might say he should have got used to it before tackling narrow streets and endangering pedestrians.

Ectophile

The big advantage of the bell type bollards is that they are stronger than the vehicles that hit them.

There's a couple of regular bollards near me that have been flattened by a careless driver. Unless the council can find who hit them, the council will be footing the bill to put them back up again.

flaneurs_lobster

Looks like that area has been "shared spaced", where the pavement/road are a continuous surface with no kerbs. It's designed to be a traffic calming measure and to give "active" travellers priority over vehicles.

If there had been a kerb on that corner rather than a bollard would it still have been an invisible obstacle? Or would you have scraped your tyre regardless?

If you can't turn left because of oncoming traffic then wait until there's a gap (or someone lets you out).

I reckon you've seen the lack of kerbs as a green light to drive all over the pedestrian area, bollard's doing its job.

Mildly_Miffed

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6675000/bell-type-bollard

Just for clarity, this is the bollard you couldn't possibly be expected to have seen as you approached the junction?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/EiTVsLugsL7jqFY5A

And, despite not being able to see the kerb, you turned such that your rear wheel crossed over the kerb and across the pavement?

Streetview shows the bollard has been there since at least 2008.

CoolRob

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057556#Comment_82057556

No, obviously I can't. It's on the passenger side of the van, it's around 12" tall. The driving position is pretty high. Like I say the bollard probably needs to be there but it could at least be a post so it's visible from the van. Or a post behind it, as I've seen in other places, so you can see it.