Written by: Chris Dolan and Megan Irish
People waiting for Muni or other bus systems are vulnerable, and exposed to the dangers of fast moving cars just feet away from where they are expected to wait. While San Francisco has endeavored to make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists alike, there continue to be tragedies, the like SUV that hit a family at the West Portal bus shelter on Saturday. A family has lost three lives because an SUV left the lane and hit them, as they waited for the Muni to pick them up.
What could have been done to keep a waiting family safe? Bollards are one option; a cement post about thirty-six inches tall could have been placed between the traveled lane and bus shelter to prevent vehicle intrusions into the bus shelter. Bollards can be spaced to permit people, strollers and wheelchairs easy access through the barrier to board a bus but narrow enough that a car cannot encroach on the space where the pedestrians are waiting. Bollards are inexpensive, and easily installed at any location. Moreover, they would not severely impact buses free access to the stop as they are not a solid barrier requiring the bus to carefully position for patrons to enter and exit the bus. Frequently bollards are used to prevent vehicles from driving into gasoline pumps, propane tank cages, and other features of the local gas stations. They are also commonly used to protect unsuspecting people from vehicle entry into convenience stores, coffee shops and grocery stores. Similarly, unsuspecting commuters and pedestrians can be protected from vehicle intrusions at bus stops. Bollards are one option that can make bus stops safer.
