Granite and concrete blocks are installed as part of Operational Projects as hardening in order to provide safety for pedestrians. Many granite blocks have been repurposed from bridge rehabilitation projects across the City. These blocks are a sustainable solution that integrates seamlessly into New York City's urban environment. NYC DOT also purchases new blocks when needed.
A few years ago they put some rocks in low visibility corners in my neighbourhood after a few close calls with kids. Every once in a while someone still tries to cut the corner and hits the rocks. Often enough that the rocks need to be moved back at least once a year.
Now, in the US I expect the rocks will be protests as soon as the first idiot backs into one of the rocks.
These blocks are a sustainable solution that integrates seamlessly into New York City's urban environment.
Uhh that doesn't look seamless to me. But far from me to complain, bollards are great.
I put a boulder at the end of my driveway as people kept plowing through my yard/garden and it has worked wonders. We call it the car parts god. And the car parts god demands sacrifice.
I recently read something about how Paris uses temporary measures before redesigning a road, selling initial changes to the public as an experiment. By not immediately going to a final design, people seem to be more accepting of the end result even if that result is exactly the same as the temporary fix was. Almost as if the drivers need some time to let go of 'their' street. Guess these kinds of blocks can easily be used to 'temporarily' change a street layout, by making a street/lane for cars inaccessible for cars.
Good of them to provide ammunition for the upcoming block-by-block urban trebuchet battles.
My pet rock will be so happy to see more friends while we're out for our walks!
In the UK a lot of local authorties use cast iron bells bell-bollards
I have seen it this done well and with aesthetic attention to detail. But apparently in New York you just dropped rocks on the ground and go home.
Usually these are raised up to the level of the walkway and generally integrated little bit better into the environment maybe put some plants and gravel around them, this looks like the result of a landslide that they've just painted an outline around. I suppose it's equally effective but I feel like aesthetics account for something.
Finally something to piss on.
Surely they could come up with something a bit better contrasting ?
all 53 comments