Commonway
Version V. 2026.08.31

Bollard

ELM-BOL-25
Recommended Element

Bollard

A short, sturdy vertical post installed to block or control vehicle access to a specific area, protect pedestrians or infrastructure from vehicle intrusion, or delineate a boundary, ranging from fixed to removable or retractable designs.

Working assessment: this pattern’s status reflects a preliminary Commonway System judgment call, pending final review.

#Why this pattern exists

Where a full barrier or curb is not warranted but vehicle access still needs to be controlled or blocked, a plaza edge, a bike facility entrance, a sidewalk protected from a nearby travel lane, bollards provide a lighter-weight, often more flexible solution. This pattern exists to document that distinct, smaller-scale protective and access-control role.

#Key considerations

  • Spacing must allow pedestrian, wheelchair, and stroller passage while still restricting vehicle entry
  • Removable or retractable designs should be specified where emergency or service vehicle access is occasionally needed
  • Visibility (reflective marking, contrasting color) matters for both drivers and pedestrians; an unmarked bollard is itself a collision hazard

Traffic Barrier (ELM-TRB-23), Crash Cushion/End Terminal (ELM-CCT-24) (related but functionally distinct safety hardware); Plaza/Parklet (FAC-PLZ-07), Bike Parking Corral (FAC-BPC-08) (Facility patterns commonly protected by bollards)

Unsourced claim

Formal citations for this pattern have not yet been compiled from primary sources.

Suggest changes to this page (opens in new tab) Last updated August 31, 2026