After the spate of motor vehicles being used to deadly effect in recent terror attacks there are calls for solutions. Forklifts have hurriedly been positioning large concrete blocks along La Rambla in Madrid, as well as in cities across the globe in efforts to separate traffic and pedestrians. But these are ugly and intrusive, an inelegant solution.
For some years Melbourne industrial design business, Lugton Associates, has been developing a bike rack that doubles effectively as a traffic bollard. The two piece units weigh around 100kg and are made from polymer concrete which is much stronger than regular concrete which has a strength of 20-25Mpa. High strength concrete is rated at about 30Mpa, while the locally developed 'polymer concrete' mix used in these bollards is rated at around 80Mpa.
Apart from being exceptionally strong, the Lugton Bollard racks have the benefit of looking more like a piece of sculpture, than a massive chunk of concrete which brings with it the association of terrorist attacks, so when you see a group of these things in situ, it doesnt look like the city is under siege. The bollards are secured in place by lengths of 20cm re-bar set into concrete or ashphalt, either into a freshly poured footing, or retrofitted by bonding and drilling. The bike's own weight holds it in the rack, which has been developed to hold the bike by the front tyre without marking the rim, and not touching the frame at all. Tyres profile compatibility is broad; from 23x700c up to fatbike tyres work in the rack.
Pricing of the bollards is very competitive with the similarly purposed stainless steel bollards currently available, around $400 compared to the steel $800. The bollards are now ready for production and available to all comers, though it is likely councils will be a major customer.
Contact David Lugton
www.lugton.com.au
0410 044 820
