Access control barriers

Feature details

The use of access control barriers on active travel routes is one of the recurring problems that Active Travel England has seen in schemes, limiting accessibility to people walking, wheeling and cycling.

The use of bollards and barriers should generally be avoided, but may be necessary to prevent unauthorised access by motorised vehicles. Where access control infrastructure is considered necessary it should always retain access for all active travel users, including wheelchairs, mobility scooters and all types of cycles.

Infrastructure should be designed to allow cyclists to navigate without dismounting, providing sufficient space for manoeuvring without needing to stop.

Poorly designed chicane barriers may be inaccessible for users of non-standard cycles including tandems, tricycles, cargo bikes and cycles pulling child trailers. The stagger between chicane elements should be sufficient to allow people in wheelchairs and those using larger types of cycle to safely manoeuvre through.

Bollards and other vertical features should be designed to provide a minimum of 1.5 metres horizontal clearance. Barriers and bollards should contrast with the background and can be fitted with reflectors to increase visibility, and where necessary, bollards can also include lighting.

Additional resources

Metrics relating to barriers on active travel routes

The Active Travel England route check tool sets out several checks on the presence of barriers on active travel routes. This includes metric ST19, metric PA17 and policy principle PO02.

ATE route check tool

The use of barriers in LTN 1/20

LTN 1/20 (section 8.3) sets out guidance on the use of barriers and bollards for cycle routes.

LTN 1/20: Cycle Infrastructure Design

Barriers in Manual for Streets

Manual for Streets discusses the use of barriers and bollards and how to consider impacts on pedestrians and street design throughout.

Manual for Streets

Barrier considerations in Inclusive Mobility

Inclusive Mobility explains that barriers and bollards on active travel routes can become an obstacle and a hazard. They need to be carefully placed and designed (see for instance section 4.7). Section 7.6 sets out that access control measures should be avoided as they can prevent access for some types of cycles.

Inclusive Mobility

Use of bollards in Streets for All

Streets for All explains that the use of bollards should be avoided if possible, but some existing bollards may be historic and contribute to local character.

Streets for All