Traffic management is hard enough at the best of times. It can become all the harder when special events take place, with small towns and larger cities becoming crowded and congested if not handled properly. An essential tool to handling special occasions in easily clogged up areas? Mobile vehicle barriers.
This piece will dig a little deeper into what mobile vehicle barriers are, then give more insight into the situations where they can be the most useful. It should offer some guidance to local organisers and promoters looking to throw events without a hitch.
How do mobile vehicle barriers work?
Mobile vehicle barriers operate much like permanent security bollards, generally having similar shapes and sizes. The difference is that while most security bollard systems require more extensive installation processes, good mobile barriers should act as modular systems that can be easily fitted and moved for temporary occasions.
The weighted barriers should tilt forward on impact with vehicles, wedging the base plate and prongs between the vehicle and the road, inspiring a full standstill. Vehicle stopping power and general deterrence makes them a great choice for managing both motor and foot traffic. Their transient nature makes them a great choice for everything from a citywide event to a pop-up outdoor market.
Events and occasions that should use mobile vehicle barriers
So when are these temporary barriers really going to make the most difference? It’s important to consider those sporadic times of year with massively increased traffic and attendance to an area. If a zone is constantly in use for a variety of different events, it might be more suitable to invest in automatic or semi-automatic bollards as a more permanent solution.
Seasonal markets
Christmas markets make a sizeable contribution to the British economy every year, but they only ever last a few months at the most. In smaller towns and villages, they might only stay active for a couple of weeks or even days. These outdoor markets often occupy space that’s generally used by both vehicles and pedestrians, meaning new barriers and blockades have to be setup to allow for smooth operations. Christmas is the market on everyone’s mind, but spring and summer pop-ups can also be great uses for mobile vehicle barriers.
Local-specific happenings
Local traditions often come with a variety of events, while it’s also common for townspeople to throw events on a whim. The kinds of things that pop up in towns with little regularity can include:
- Outdoor movie nights
- Block parties and picnics
- Charity runs, walkathons and sporting events
- Community clean-up days
- Heritage celebrations
When these events crop up, it’s important to have proper traffic management systems in place. Mobile vehicle barriers are a great thing to have in stock, ideal for the irregularity of the happenings.
Festivals
Festival traffic is a very real thing, especially in the case of larger music festivals like Glastonbury or Reading. However, even though the areas in and around music festivals get very busy, festival management is a once-a-year process in general. These areas have no cause for more permanent barrier fittings; however, festival security requirements (especially with drivers who might be a little unreliable) might call for more than a set of orange cones.
Political visits
Something that every town should be prepared for is political visits. The public might be visited by a local MP, councilperson or even a foreign interest, but there might not be a set pathway for them to follow every time. Mobile vehicle barriers can be essential for guiding people and vehicles safely through a potentially volatile situation.
Make sure to keep track of your local schedule and maintain a well-informed group of stakeholders when managing events of this nature. And remember, keeping some mobile vehicle barriers can be essential to ensuring success.
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