Major Advantages of Retractable Bollards

Installing bollards in your parking lot or in front of a building is a great way to direct traffic and protect your property. When choosing bollards, you should be aware that there are several options in terms of design and function. One versatile bollard option is the retractable bollard; learn about the major advantages of retractable bollards in this article.

What Are Retractable Bollards?

Retractable bollards are bollards that can be retracted into the ground when not in use. When they are raised, the bollards act as a barrier for large vehicles, but when they are lowered into the ground, it’s as if the bollards aren’t even there. Retractable bollards come in both automatic and manual varieties.

Advantages of Retractable Bollards

Allow for Controlled Access

The quality that sets retractable bollards apart from other bollard models is their ability to allow for controlled access to a given area. For instance, say there is an area of your property that is restricted to the general public but allows employees. You can install retractable bollards in front of the entrance to that area, keeping them raised most of the time but retracting them for employee vehicles. If you have an area of your property that is multi-use, you can lower the bollards to indicate when general access is acceptable but put them up when you want to restrict access. In this way, retractable bollards are a versatile option.

Effectively Separate Traffic

Placing retractable bollards on your property is a good way to separate and control traffic. Bollards create clear boundaries for vehicles, preventing them from driving into restricted areas or straying too close to the location of the bollards. Additionally, retractable bollards are sturdy and, should a vehicle chance to hit a line of bollards, they will prevent it from crossing over that barrier.

Protect Pedestrians and Property

Perhaps the most important benefit of retractable bollards is their ability to protect both pedestrians and property. In areas heavy with foot traffic, adding a line of bollards is a wise idea, as they create a barrier between vehicles and pedestrians and property that will be invaluable in the case of an accident. Installing bollards is an easy way to ensure pedestrian safety and avoid property repair costs.

The major advantages of retractable bollards make purchasing them a worthwhile investment. Bollards protect your property, but they require protection as well, so consider purchasing CMPI’s architectural bollard covers. These covers will fit on retractable bollards as well as other types. They’ll protect your bollards and save you money on maintenance, so they’re a good investment to make.