#Removable Bollards

[eminent-tactiles]

What Are the Different Types of Parking Bollards and Their Uses? removable bollards

When it comes to managing parking and protecting pedestrian areas, parking bollards play a crucial role in both safety and traffic control. These sturdy posts are not just barriers; they are part of a strategic approach to urban planning and vehicle management. Here's a look at the different types of parking-bollards and their specific uses:

1. Fixed Bollards

Fixed bollards are permanently installed in a location to offer constant protection. They are ideal for separating pedestrian zones from vehicle areas, protecting storefronts, and securing sensitive buildings. Made from materials like steel or reinforced concrete, these bollards are designed to withstand significant impact.

2. Removable Bollards

Removable Bollards provide the flexibility to allow or restrict access as needed. These are perfect for areas that require occasional vehicle access, such as emergency routes or maintenance pathways. They can be unlocked and removed to permit entry, then replaced to restore security.

3. Retractable Bollards

Retractable bollards are technologically advanced solutions that can be raised or lowered into the ground with the push of a button. This type is ideal for controlling access to multi-use spaces without the need for manual labor. They are often used in smart city environments where adaptability is essential.

4. Flexible Bollards

Flexible bollards are designed to bend upon impact, making them suitable for areas where minor collisions are likely, such as bike lanes or parking lots. These bollards serve as visual guides for drivers and can withstand being hit without causing damage to vehicles.

5. Decorative Bollards

While primarily functional, decorative bollards also enhance the aesthetic of the environment. These bollards come in various designs and can be crafted from materials like cast iron or stainless steel to add a touch of elegance to their practicality. They often feature unique shapes or artistic elements that complement the landscape.

Each type of bollard serves a distinct purpose in managing traffic and protecting areas from vehicle intrusion. By understanding the specific needs of your space, you can choose the right type of bollard to enhance safety and efficiency. For more on innovative designs and installations, explore our extensive coverage on bollard design.

[ameliyalanne]

Safety and Security: The Importance of Parking Bollards in Traffic Control

Parking bollards have become integral to contemporary city planning. From enhancing pedestrian safety to protecting critical infrastructure, they fulfil multiple roles.

[businesspromoting]

Removable Bollards

Purchase Removable Bollards from our online store at affordable price.

[jeanjane]

Bollards | Bollard supplier Abu Dhabi, Dubai

One of the best Bollard supplier in UAE, Frontier Pitts offers different types of Bollards like Automatic Bollards and static Bollards, Removable Bollards, etc.

Visit: https://fpgulf.com/products-category/bollards-supplier/

[dogstomp]

Dogstomp #3136 - August 2nd

Patreon / Discord Server / Itaku / Bluesky

[arrowsafety8]

Secure and Convenient Removable Bollard with Padlock System | Arrow Safety

Enhance security and control access with our Removable Bollard with Padlock System, available at Arrow Safety. This versatile bollard is designed for easy removal and reinstallation, providing flexibility without compromising safety. Ideal for restricting vehicle access in both commercial and residential spaces, it features durable construction and a reliable padlock system for added security. Perfect for temporary or permanent applications, ensuring peace of mind with every use. Visit Arrow Safety for quality bollard solutions that meet your security needs.

[line-marking]

Enhancing Traffic Management: The Role Of Removable Bollards In Sydney

Removable bollards are becoming increasingly popular in urban environments like Sydney, offering a flexible and effective solution for managing traffic flow, enhancing security, and improving pedestrian safety. These versatile barriers can be easily installed and removed as needed, making them ideal for a wide range of applications in the bustling streets of Sydney. In this blog post, we'll explore the features and benefits of removable bollards in Sydney and their role in enhancing traffic management in Sydney.

[fionayao2008]

Tripod Turnstile Overview Tripod Turnstile, Swing Turnstile, as well as Flap Turnstile( RS Security Co., Ltd: www.szrssecurity.com) are modern control devices for pedestrian flows. They are used in position where the entrance as well as departure of individuals require to be regulated, such as clever communities, canteens, hotels, galleries, gyms, clubs, metros, stations, anchors, and so on location. Making use of Tripod Turnstile, Swing Turnstile, as well as Flap Turnstile can make the circulation of individuals organized. Tripod Turnstile, Swing Turnstile, Flap Turnstile are made use of in mix with smart cards, finger prints, barcodes and also various other recognition system tools to create an intelligent accessibility control network control system; they are used in mix with computers, access control, attendance, billing administration, ticket systems and also other software application to create a The intelligent Turnstile Gate thorough management system can understand features such as gain access to control, participation, consumption, ticketing, as well as current restricting. This Turnstile Gate monitoring system belongs to the "all-in-one card" and is mounted at flows such as neighborhoods, manufacturing facilities, smart structures, canteens, and so on. It can finish different monitoring features such as employee card traveling control, attendance at leave work and dishes, as well as dining. Tripod Turnstile system attributes Convenient and also rapid: review the card in and out with one swipe. Utilize the accredited IC card and wave it before the smart Tripod Turnstile reader to finish the Tripod Turnstile gate opening as well as fee recording work. The card reading is non-directional as well as the reading and also writing time is 0.1 secs, which is rapid and also hassle-free. Security and confidentiality: Use background or local verification, licensed issuance, as well as distinct identity, that is, the card can just be made use of in this system, and it is safe and also confidential. Reliability: Card superhigh frequency induction, reputable and stable, with the ability to judge as well as assume. Flexibility: The system can flexibly set entry and also departure control employees permissions, period control, cardholder legitimacy and also blacklist loss coverage, including cards and other features. Adaptability: Through permission, the customer card can be utilized for "one-card" management such as parking, presence, accessibility control, patrol, consumption, and so on, making it very easy to recognize several uses of one card. Simplicity: Easy to set up, easy to connect, the software program has a Chinese user interface and also is simple to run. Tripod Turnstile, Swing Turnstile, and Flap Turnstile( RS Security Co., Ltd: www.szrssecurity.com) are contemporary control gadgets for pedestrian flows. The use of Tripod Turnstile, Swing Turnstile, and also Flap Turnstile can make the circulation of people orderly. Utilize the licensed IC card and also wave it in front of the wise Tripod Turnstile reader to complete the Tripod Turnstile gate opening and also charge recording work.

[creativelara]

Various Advantages Of Removable Bollards

Nowadays, harsh vehicle drivers can be seen in an increased number; everyone is in a race. Moreover, the number of vehicles on the road has increased a lot from before and with these things, accidents are more commonly happening. However, you might have seen some posts like vertical structures on the roads and these things are great for preventing such accidents. Bollards have been in use for…

[isawthesainz]

Race Recap 6: Miami

Sunday 5th May 2024

Build-Up:

On 25th April, it is reported that Adrian Newey will leave Red Bull at the end of the season

On 26th April, it is announced that Nico Hulkenberg will leave Haas at the end of the season. Hulkenberg confirms he will be joining Stake F1 team from 2025 and representing Audi from 2026

On 1st May, Red Bull confirms Adrian Newey will leave Red Bull in early 2025

On 1st May, it is reported that ex-Haas team boss Guenther Steiner is suing Haas for violating its employment contract

On 2nd May, it is reported that Carlos Sainz will not be joining Audi in 2025 as the offer from Audi has expired

On 3rd May, the FIA confirms that Williams has applied for authorisation for Kimi Antonelli to race in F1 before he turns 18. It is also reported that Antonelli could replace Logan Sargeant from the Imola GP onwards

Sprint Race Highlights:

Esteban Ocon crashes into Charles Leclerc in the pit lane on the way to the grip and receives a 10 second penalty

On the first corner of Lap 1, Lewis Hamilton pushes Fernando Alonso into Lance Stroll, who pushes Lando Norris off of the track, causing a yellow flag. The safety car is released whilst Norris’ car is removed from the track. Stroll also retires from the race with damage. Alonso stops to change a tire after a puncture. The race restarts on Lap 4

On Lap 12 Kevin Magnussen receives a 10 second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. He receives a further penalty for exceeding track limits

Daniel Ricciardo finishes 4th, his best result of the season

Hamilton receives a 20-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane during the safety car

Sprint Race Results:

1st Place: Max Verstappen

2nd Place: Charles Leclerc

3rd Place: Sergio Perez

Race Highlights:

Sergio Perez locks up into turn one on the first lap, almost taking out Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz

On Lap 21, Max Verstappen hits a bollard which ends up in the middle of the track

On Lap 23, the virtual safety car is brought out whilst a marshal removes the bollard from the track

Logan Sargeant and Kevin Magnussen collide on Lap 29. Magnussen brings his car back to the pits, but the safety car is brought out whilst marshals remove Sargeant’s car from the track

Lando Norris pits from the lead on Lap 30 under the safety car and rejoins the race ahead of the safety car. Once all the drivers pass Sargeant’s car, they are waved passed the safety car to catch up with Norris

Magnussen is handed a 10-second penalty for the crash with Sargeant

The safety car ends on Lap 32 and the race restarts. Norris gets clear of DRS range and starts to extend his lead on Verstappen

On Lap 40, Carlos Sainz pulls a move on Oscar Piastri, pushing Piastri off the track. Piastri suffers damage to his front wing and has to pit to replace it, dropping back down to 19th

On Lap 54, Alex Albon suffers a lock up and goes off the track into the run off area, but manages to rejoin the race

Lando Norris finishes the race in 1st place, 7.7 seconds ahead of Verstappen

Carlos Sainz is given a 5 second penalty post-race for the incident with Piastri and drops from P4 to P5

Race Results:

1st Place: Lando Norris

2nd Place: Max Verstappen

3rd Place: Charles Leclerc

[eminent-tactiles]

What is Parking Bollard?

Bollards, sturdy and often understated, serve as critical components in managing vehicle traffic and protecting pedestrian areas. Originally mere mooring posts, bollards have evolved significantly in both function and design. This blog delves into a specific type of bollard—the parking bollard. Our focus will be on understanding what parking-bollards are, exploring their various types, and discussing their significance in modern urban and suburban settings. By the end of this discussion, you'll appreciate not only their practicality but also how they contribute to safer and more organized public spaces.

Types of Parking Bollards

Below Ground Surface Bollard

Below ground surface bollards are installed with their bases fixed deep into the ground, providing a strong, permanent barrier. These are often used where high security and immovability are crucial, such as in front of storefronts or government buildings.

Surface Mounted Bollard

Surface mounted bollards are attached directly onto the surface of the ground using bolts or other strong fixtures. This type is easier to install compared to below ground bollards and can be used where lesser impact resistance is needed, like in private parking lots or for temporary traffic direction.

Removable Bollard

Removable bollards offer the most flexibility. They can be locked into place when needed and removed when vehicle access is necessary, making them ideal for areas that require occasional vehicle entry, like emergency routes or multipurpose spaces.

Materials Used in Parking Bollards

Concrete

Concrete bollards are chosen for their mass and sturdiness, often used in permanent installations where visual deterrence and high-level protection are necessary.

Plastic and Polyurethane

For places needing lower impact resistance or temporary solutions, plastic or polyurethane bollards are suitable. These materials are lighter, easier to move, and often come in bright colors to enhance visibility.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel offers a more refined look and excellent durability against weather elements. It's commonly used in commercial and residential areas where aesthetics are as important as functionality.

Functions and Benefits of Parking Bollards

Primary Functions of Parking Bollards

Parking bollards serve a critical role in controlling or limiting vehicle access in various settings. Their primary functions include:

Access Control

Bollards act as physical barriers, preventing unauthorized vehicles from entering restricted areas. This is essential in places like pedestrian zones, bike lanes, and protected community spaces, ensuring that these areas remain safe and clear of vehicles.

Perimeter Security

In sensitive or high-security areas, such as near government buildings, utility plants, or commercial centers, parking bollards provide a sturdy physical obstacle that helps secure the perimeter and protect the property.

Traffic Direction

Bollards guide drivers by clearly marking driving lanes, parking spots, and no-access zones, which helps in managing traffic flow and preventing confusion in busy or compact areas.

Innovations and Trends in Parking Bollards

Recent Innovations in Parking Bollards

The design and functionality of parking bollards have seen significant advancements in recent years, reflecting changes in technology and security needs. Here are some of the notable innovations:

Smart Bollards

Integrating technology, smart bollards can be controlled remotely using smartphones or central management systems. This feature allows for real-time control over access, such as automatically lowering bollards to allow emergency vehicles through or to manage access during specific hours.

Solar-Powered Bollards

With an emphasis on sustainability, solar-powered bollards are becoming more prevalent. These bollards harness solar energy to power built-in LED lighting, enhancing visibility and safety at night without additional energy costs.

Automated Retractable Bollards

Advancements in automation have led to the development of highly efficient retractable bollards. These can be programmed to operate automatically based on specific schedules or conditions, improving ease of use and reducing the need for manual operation.

Impact-Resistant Materials

The use of new materials and construction techniques has significantly improved the impact resistance of bollards. Some modern bollards are designed to stop high-speed vehicles, providing critical security in sensitive areas without compromising aesthetic appeal.

[ameliyalanne]

Your property is secure and accessible with our different range of removable security bollards. Contact us today for more information.

[theblogforuae]

Enhance Safety and Security with Reliable Barriers in UAE

Hey there! Have you noticed how cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi are booming? With more people and cars around, safety becomes even more important. That's where clever folks in businesses, government, and building management come in. They're using some really neat tools called safety barriers and parking barriers to keep everyone safe and sound. These barriers are like invisible walls that help prevent accidents and keep pedestrians and drivers separated. They're also super helpful for managing parking spaces, making sure everyone gets a spot and there's no chaos! It's all about keeping our cities vibrant and safe, one barrier at a time!

Safety barrier:

Safety Barrier are adjustable solutions designed to protect pedestrians and property from potential hazards. They come in various materials and configurations, including:

Plastic barriers: Imagine you're throwing a block party and need to keep the bouncy castle safe for the little ones, or section off an area for games. This is where plastic barriers shine! Lightweight and easy to move around, they're ideal for temporary gigs. Plus, their bright colors grab attention and help everyone see where they shouldn't go. Think of them as the friendly cones of the barrier world, guiding people in the right direction.

Metal barriers: Now, let's say you're working on a construction site. Here, you need something a bit tougher. That's where metal barriers come in. These heavy-duty guys can handle bumps, scrapes, and even the occasional runaway toolbox. Metal barriers are the security guards of the barrier family, creating a strong and stable line to keep people safe.

Retractable barriers : Ever been to a fancy restaurant with a fancy rope separating the entrance ? . That's a type of retractable barrier! These clever gadgets have a belt or rope that extends from a post, letting you create a barrier that can be easily adjusted or removed as needed. Perfect for places where you need to control access but also want to add a touch of style. Think of them as the chameleons of the barrier world, adapting to any environment!

Parking barrier

Parking barrier, on the other hand, are specifically designed to manage parking spaces and prevent unauthorized access. They come in different styles, such as:

Automatic Bollards: Your Personal Parking Genie! Imagine pulling up to your spot and like magic, a short post rises from the ground, reserving it just for you. That's the magic of automatic bollards! These high-tech wonders stay hidden underground until you arrive. With a special key card (think secret handshake!), the bollard pops up, creating your own personal parking kingdom. Once you leave, the bollard disappears again, keeping unwanted vehicles at bay. Talk about convenience fit for a superhero!

Manual Bollards: Reliable and Budget-Friendly Looking for a more wallet-friendly option? Manual bollards are your answer! These sturdy posts are like the old-school knights of parking protection. They rely on a good old-fashioned key or padlock to raise and lower. Sure, they might not have the James Bond-style gizmos of automatic bollards, but they offer a reliable and cost-effective way to control access to your parking space. Plus, there's a certain satisfaction in using a good old key – a classic solution that gets the job done!

Wheel Stoppers: Simple But MightySometimes, you just need a straightforward solution. Wheel stoppers are low-profile blocks that act like parking spot bouncers. They prevent cars from going over a certain line, making sure no one accidentally (or intentionally!) steals your designated spot. These little guys are super easy to install and get the job done without any fuss. Perfect for marking designated parking areas or restricting access to specific zones, wheel stoppers are a simple but mighty way to keep your parking woes at bay.

Choosing the right barriers depends on your specific needs and the environment.

Strength and Visibility: Imagine a busy road versus a peaceful park. On the road, you need a strong barrier to handle potential impact. In the park, something bright and easy to spot keeps everyone aware of designated areas.

Easy Does It: Think about how often the barrier will be used. In high-traffic areas, you'll want something that's quick to set up and take down. No one wants to spend ages wrestling with a barrier when there's a constant flow of people or vehicles.

Budgeting for Beauty: Barriers come in all shapes, sizes, and, of course, prices. Consider how much you're willing to spend and choose something that fits your budget. But don't forget about looks! The right barrier can actually enhance the overall visual appeal of your space.

Conclusion : 

Busy cities in the UAE need special tools to keep people and places safe. Just like how fences keep animals in a zoo, safety barriers block off dangerous areas to protect people from getting hurt. Parking barriers are like special gatekeepers for cars, making sure only the right ones park in the right spots. This helps keep traffic flowing smoothly and finding a parking spot easier!

There are all sorts of barriers, just like there are all sorts of jobs they need to do. Lightweight barriers, like pool noodles you might use at a pool party, work well for short events. Strong metal barriers, like the ones you see around construction sites, are extra tough for big jobs.

The same goes for parking! You can pick automatic barriers that open and close by themselves, or simple wheel stoppers that keep cars from rolling away. By choosing the right barriers, the people who plan cities and events in the UAE are making sure everyone has a safe and fun time!

[futelco]

Urban Furniture

Urban furniture is an important part of the lives of those of us who exist in urban environments. It is easy to ignore urban furniture and let it shape us, but to do so is not only boring, but foolish.

What Is Urban Furniture?

For our purposes, urban furniture will refer to the collection of physical features deployed in the public environment and oriented towards pedestrian activity for the purposes of providing or removing amenities. This definition is flexible and there is not much point in worrying about the edge cases. Pedestrian versus vehicular activity is the most significant boundary. The difference between a person in an automobile and a pedestrian is large, both in what they can do and how they behave, and we don't want to care about amenities for automobiles, which occupy an entirely different world, hostile to everyone else. Bicyclist versus pedestrian activity is a smaller leap, especially because a cyclist can change into a pedestrian and back easily. And then, with scooters, wheelchairs, and other mobility devices, the lines are blurry. Similarly, public and private space can intersect; an accessible space might be considered public but exclude enough freedoms to make the designation questionable, for example by requiring but not enforcing payment, or by denying freedom of expression.

What Are The Goals Of Urban Furniture?

Objects themselves have no purpose, of course. Their purpose comes from how and why they are deployed and used. What is the purpose behind installing urban furniture? Is it help or harm individual people? Yes, but more importantly, it is to help, harm, or influence populations.

Urban furniture provides or denies an amenity, essentially granting or removing an ability. It can allow rest with a bench or wall, give shelter with a roof, wall, or bollard, assist movement with a sidewalk, ramp, stairs, or handrail, or provide other resources such as a hitching post, heat, or water. It can distribute items, for example a newspaper box, ATM, rental bike rack, or vending machine. It can facilitate communication with a telephone, speaker, sign, or other content distribution method. And it can enable expression with services like a graffiti wall, amphitheater, or public square. It can deny rest with anti-sit and anti-lie devices or other obstructions, and it can deny movement with walls, railings, anti-skateboarding devices, or turnstiles.

Often, urban furniture might modify or encourage where an amenity can be accessed. A tree can be protected from pedestrian wear with a paved walkway that provides an easier path at a suitable distance. The mechanism used might not be completely physical, using communication such as markings or sounds that guide interactions between people, or assist the enforcement of rules by a separate class of people in police or security roles. In this way, the goals of urban furniture can be seen to be behavior modification.

How Should We Understand Urban Furniture?

The urban furniture around us should be considered with a psychogeographic approach. Notice what affordances are being given and taken away, and what behavior those changes are promoting or discouraging. How does it change the relationships between people, and between people and their environment? How does it shape the human society around it, and change the mood of the neighborhood and its occupants? It can also be helpful to explore the ecosystem of processes behind the deployment of urban furniture. What are the systems that cause it to end up where it is? How long are the bureaucratic supply chains behind it, and what are the conflicts between objectives which affect the placement and removal of urban furniture?

As pedestrians, we are the subjects of urban furniture, it is our behavior being modified. In the long term, our outlook is also being modified, as we respond to our environment and gradually alter what we consider to be possible and desirable. Do we think it is weird to pay a fare before entering a subway platform, or not be able to lie down in public, or only discard trash in a receptacle? Is it normal to loiter and interact with other people? While we may have exhibited some of these behaviors regardless, the help or hindrance provided by the built environment, amplified by the effects of observing how it is used by the people around us, influences many of our actions and even our desires.

Examples of urban furniture analysis

Pretend Benches

At the first look, this might be described as an actual piece of furniture. It presents as a bus stop bench, designed to allow the human body to rest while waiting for a bus.

What affordances are really provided or denied by this item? Its shape shows one which is only slightly subtle. It has a tilted surface at waist height for some people. Is it intended to provide support, for people to snug their butts on the surface to lean against it? No, it is not. Nobody has ever done this. The resting surface is merely cosmetic, to provide the illusion of an amenity. It is meant to appear to be a minimum viable bench even though it is completely unsuitable for that task.

The most important aspect is the vertical surface. It is a billboard. Why is there a fake leaning surface at all? Because the bus company can say that the primary purpose of this item is for passengers to rest on while waiting for a bus. There is a design requirement that must be followed for this item to exist here.

Why is this billboard important? The bus company gets income by renting it out to advertisers. This also requires more behavior modification. Ordinary people are not allowed to decorate the billboard, only the advertisers approved by the bus company may. We might want to improve its message or replace it with our own, but we may not. In this case, the physical characteristics of the item don't prevent us, but the related machinery of civilization does. If the police catch us altering it, we will be punished.

Of course, it was illegal to sleep on a bus stop bench long before someone invented this assault on our humanity, but it is much more efficient when physical characteristics prevent the action and enforcement isn't necessary. The iterations of this kind of design in attempts to allow sitting, but not reclining, make benches a favorite subject for students of hostile architecture. Also well studied are the many amusing examples of methods to circumvent these design elements. In the end, it has always been the police who are the final method of compliance. This fake bench doesn't require them, because it is impossible to lie on. All that was required was to make it useless as a bench.

It is interesting to deduce the processes behind it. Why not just remove the bench? Because that also removes the advertising, which is the whole reason for its existence. But what is the system that makes it even possible? The bus company can't just put a billboard there, otherwise we'd see panels of them at every bus stop. The city lets them advertise on benches because, hey, people get a bench, so the company is allowed to fund it with an ad. They need to pretend that this is a bench. But it is obviously not a bench. The designers knew that it would never be used as a bench. The city regulators knew. And they knew that we knew.

This is the core of psychogeographic inquiry. What does the built environment reveal about the priorities of those who deploy it? What are the expressed motivations and what are the real motivations? How do they mold us, as people and as populations?

Bollards

image distributed by IRSystems under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

One of the oldest items of urban furniture is the bollard. Bollards can be seen all around the city, doing important work. Bollards evolved from mooring posts, and now serve as automobile area denial.

Look at any ATM or gas meter on a sidewalk vulnerable to ramming by a runaway or marauding car, and a bollard will be seen guarding it. The presence of a curb or a person is not enough. These bollards will be sturdy metal poles filled with concrete. Now visit a separated bicycle lane in America. You will not see the protection of a bollard. You may see Botts' dots, round domes a few inches high which give drivers a tactile warning as they swerve into the bike lane. Or you may see vertical traffic panels, flexible plastic pretend bollards designed to not damage the vehicles which strike them. What does this tell us about the values of hardware and humans? How does the escalation of the response to danger change with the source and target of that danger? How are we supposed to feel as people in these environments? Are we safe? Are we free? Can we be unguarded and open with each other?

Poles And Hitches

Poles are everywhere and are perhaps the simplest form of urban furniture, a stick to elevate something else. The way that they are used is what makes them interesting. They are appropriated as hitches, signposts, and a substrate for artwork. Explicit hitches are also used in this way. It makes a routine event fun. Locking a bike gives us a moment to see who has been there, and provides a visual sniff test of the neighborhood.

An important purpose of these objects is also protection from automobiles, a kind of single-use bollard. Because this is not their intended purpose - they are too expensive for that, their main reason for being goes away after they absorb an impact, and the humans they protect are not valuable - they often remain for a while after an impact until workers can be tasked to replace them. This allows them to fulfill another unintended purpose, a signal about the environment. You could be next!

Newspaper Boxes

Newspaper boxes come in two varieties, coin-operated and free. Along with the intended purpose of distributing newspapers and pamphlets, they also create little coves of higher entropy where eddies of activity will deposit items. Shopping carts and items of landfill capitalism such as rental scooters can often be found in these zones, and of course smashed off pieces of cars.

Their lifecycle also often involves them being abandoned in place after they are no longer being filled, where they will remain as they are slowly bludgeoned into crumpled masses. All of these factors make them interesting zones of urban anthropology, where the detritus of a neighborhood can be examined. However, they also illustrate the sad human custom of stuffing trash in any space that will hold it. And any protected space may become a site for a tent or a makeshift shelter.

Writing Surfaces

Urban furniture doesn't need to be intentionally placed as furniture. "The street finds its own uses for things". Any flat surface can become a place for notes to be written: graffiti, messages to specific people, or just as a kind of talking to oneself. It is interesting to see what the neighborhood is thinking about.

What Should Be Done About Urban Furniture?

We should, of course, gladly adapt our actions and values to accommodate those examples of urban furniture which are helpful and have a beneficial effect on our communities. And we must approach all urban furniture in the same way we do the rest of the urban environment, with playful intentions and actions. We must appropriate our surroundings in order to survive as individuals and as populations, and those of us who are able are obligated to do this with ludic engagement, by perverting functional directives into play structures.

Examples Of The Use Of Urban Furniture

Repurposing

Many items of urban furniture can be repurposed. Often, the systems which were allowed to originally place it will revert it back, but some subtle alterations go unnoticed for long periods, and even obvious ones will sometimes reveal that nobody who is supposed to be responsible is paying attention. Newspaper boxes are good targets because, as noted, they are just left lying around without much organization.

This box was turned into an art installation years or decades ago. It was moved into an out of the way side street, and it's just a remnant now, the rotating art show hasn't been updated for ages. Nobody is paid to care enough to remove it.

A more low-key change is to keep the original purpose of the device, but to replace the contents. Again, newspaper boxes are obvious candidates, more so during the golden age of copy shop exploitation and crackpot zine distribution, but still viable today.

With luck, the turf wars of that era can be revived. Some friends of mine once rebranded a vacant free newspaper box to give away their manifestos. After a period of successful distribution, they didn't refill it often enough and another group covered their signage with their own and took it over for their own zines, leading to some ironic complaining.

Additions, Improvements, And Alterations

It's always so nice to see that somebody has made the environment better for everyone. A handhold, a bootscraper, anything. A climbing rope in a fire escape, or a sketchy swing that is probably better left alone. And if not better, then at least different or confusing. Who is to say that an item bolted to one surface would not better serve the community bolted to a different one? Signs and other information sources can also be created or improved, wayfinding, notices and educational content can be placed. Rules, terms of service, legal boilerplate can be changed. Ideas workshopped, questions posed, color schemes rotated.

Games

The landscape of urban furniture can be made into a playground without anything other than the participation of one or more people, just by finding challenges. Physical contests can be invented on the fly anywhere, as anyone who is or was a child knows. Games can be created by adding rules or goals. Urban furniture can be used in unexpected ways, to see how creatively they can fulfill their original or new purposes, or just to see what assumptions can be broken without greatly changing the overall interactions. Routes can be followed to remain within or without the sight lines of types of installations. Stories can be built and expanded based on the engagements of unwitting passersby. By adding communication, other participants can be included without ever meeting. Chalk, stickers, or simply the placement and collection of objects can be used to communicate. Mazes can be drawn, puzzles eked out, and interactive guides can be grown.

Any surface can be made into a challenge just by finding something difficult to do with it. The payphone near my house used to accumulate those stupid free commercial flyer boxes that littered the city. Walking home late one night, I thought they would look better if stacked. The newspaper box was empty and plastic, and all of its mass was in the weighted base. It turned out to be surprisingly hard to place it upright on top of the booth! It was taller than I could reach, so I had to toss it up there. It was easy to get the base to land, but if the pillar wasn't vertical, it would swing forward and back and fly off again. It became a fun test that amused me for a long time. Eventually, I gave up and began to walk away, only to hear a yell from an unidentified apartment nearby. "Don't give up! You can do it!" I waved in the direction of the voice and resolved to try again sometime, but a couple of days later, I found the box on top of the booth. My encouragers had succeeded where I had failed! Incidentally, this payphone was a COCOT, and the phone line was routed through the lamp enclosure, which can be accessed without breaking in or using specialized tools. Someone spliced a jack in there, so calls could be made for free by bringing a desk phone.

Adding Entire Instances

The city is full of features added by people and groups without permission, with good and bad motivations. It's incredibly fun and powerful to become the provider of urban furniture. Who's the boss now? But while the spirit of play might, if taken shallowly, encourage the practice of plunking down equipment and letting somebody else deal with it when it turns into street trash, this isn't sustainable for a long-lived project. The flip side is that the realities of maintaining assets and neighborhood relationships can be wearying. The behavior modifications we've been discussing don't just exist to turn people into docile sheep, they assist the maintainer's ability to keep the furniture available for all. To take the simplest example, flat horizontal surfaces are harder to maintain because people will leave their trash on them. It's easier to provide service if surfaces are tilted and won't hold items. Nooks and crannies will collect needles and cigarettes, alcoves may encourage activities better suited for other locations. In general, the lack of basic services provided by a callous society pushes some people into acting in unsustainable ways.

This is not to say that fun must be suppressed until all play is replaced by work. The balance must be found between propagating the ubiquitous smooth, secure, low-entropy facades of the cityscape, and giving people a little elbow room where they can decide to be socially redeeming even if some will not choose wisely. This hopefully encourages enough community support to avoid a wholly adversarial mindset.

Futel's Nefarious Role In The Ecosystem Of Urban Furniture

Futel's angle, of course, is to replicate and tweak structures that still have a few existing instances in the field. Why do we do this? To provide telephone service, of course, and to provide links to service providers over the telephone. And to provide radically accessible opportunities for pedestrians to interact creatively.

We are used to writing about this over and over again to drum up funding or outreach. It was more fun when we weren't as obvious about it, just putting down phones without any explanation, giving people something to discover and letting them wonder how many there were. The mere existence of our devices in a public setting is enough reason for us to place them, and luckily, we have found that they are still approached with curiosity. Do people doubt their memories when they see a new payphone? Do they invent strange backstories and weird organizations? Many do. More importantly, because our telephones cause some people to view their built environment with a critical eye, or make up stories and myths, or think about how they might participate, we know the project is extremely successful. We have a role in shaping not only the urban environment, but perceptions of the forms of the city and the forces behind them. And all we had to do was run a phone company for nine years.

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