Photomap

I am not a fan of bollards or barriers on cycle paths, but the council did have good reasons for putting this one in - to prevent travellers potentially invading the riverside fields (a planning requirement when the path was built).

It is not in a great position - at the start of a double bend, whuch makes it awkward to negotiate and restricts visibility. BUT the designers have at least taken appropriate steps to minimise the hazard that the bollard presents to legitimate path users:

1. The bollard is placed centrally on the path so that people naturally pass either side of it, keeping left. Unlike the double bollard arrangement so common in the city ( #13896 ) this reduces the chance of a head on collision, rather than increasing it.

2. There is very clear hazard hatching around the bollard so there is no excuse for anybody to plough into it. It isn't pretty (cobbles in contrasting colour would have looked better) and it is a bit short (Dutch guidance suggests 5m in advance) but it does the job.