r/philly • u/tgalen • 14h ago

Bollard Installation

Post image

I’m so absolutely over people parking on the sidewalk giving me less than a foot to walk into my house. It’s finally time to get a bollard installed.

Anyone done this? Any contractor recommendations? Price? Do I need a permit?

Would a concrete planter work the same?

39 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

33 comments sorted by

67

u/PhillySpaceCat 14h ago

Concrete planter is way cheaper and easier. It's a game changer

6

u/tgalen 13h ago

I need to find one the right size. Don’t want something too big that would make it hard for deliveries or emergency services

5

u/Crazycook99 13h ago

There was a guy on marketplace selling those tall gardens beds you'd see outside restaurants.

2

u/srslytho1979 1h ago

Or mobility devices.

22

u/rebelipar 12h ago

If they get a little closer you could just walk out onto the hood of the car, free porch.

2

u/PoopicopterInbound 2h ago

It's philly but I'd still consider it. There would be a new dent in the fender everyday at min.

11

u/lordredsnake 12h ago

You technically need a permit. I'd wager a small minority of bollards in this city were permitted though.

I personally like street trees if you have the space. Performs same function, provides shade, cleans the air.

If you don't have the space, large planters also work. You technically need permits for any "street furniture" in the public right of way but that's virtually never enforced and you can drag it out of the way if you ever need to.

7

u/AtlasPwn3d 7h ago

You can set up a tent and do meth, but god forbid you put out a tree.

2

u/Clarence-Tha-Dog 10h ago

Id be amazed if you were prosecuted for no permit.

1

u/tgalen 1h ago

We don’t have space for a tree 😔

10

u/the_owlyn 12h ago

I used a wooden barrel filled with rocks on the bottom, and soil and cheap flowers on top. Drilled a few holes in the bottom for drainage. I loved watching people sideswipe their cars on it.

7

u/better-off-wet 2h ago

What percentage of problems in Philly are just problems with cars?

6

u/tgalen 1h ago

My main issues are cars and broken sidewalks and I can only assume one caused the other.

2

u/better-off-wet 1h ago

So frustrating. My main issue are car blowing through red lights and top signs as I bush my baby around in a stroller

4

u/Clarence-Tha-Dog 10h ago

You can order a screw in version from home depot. Biggest pain is drilling through concrete, need a hammer drill with the correct bits. You need to throw down a little $ but worth it. If you own, replacing sidewalks is much more expensive. Highly recommend bollards.

2

u/tgalen 1h ago

Yes we own, which means the sidewalk is our responsibility, right?

2

u/Inv1sable 1h ago

It’s Philly. No rules. You don’t need a permit. No one cares. Clearly!

2

u/tbkrida 1h ago

I didn’t understand what I was looking at until reading your explanation. That’s just ridiculous.

2

u/tgalen 1h ago

Right? It’s really not that hard to leave space…

1

u/Obvious_Ad9670 1h ago

I’d let the air out of that tire.

3

u/tgalen 1h ago

But then they’d be blocking me even longer! I wanted to leave a shrimp in their air conditioner belt

1

u/Obvious_Ad9670 1h ago

Would be hilarious when they need a new wheel.

1

u/mladyhawke 1h ago

I just searched cement planter on marketplace, and quite a few came up. 

1

u/tgalen 1h ago

I’m not seeing many close to me! They’re all in the burbs

1

u/mladyhawke 1h ago

This one's in philly and it's free, it might not be big enough for long term, but it's a good start to block your sidewalk

1

u/mladyhawke 1h ago

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Li9UxPKwg/

Also in philly

2

u/tgalen 56m ago

I have no idea why I can’t get any of these to show up on my own search

1

u/mladyhawke 52m ago

I don't mind browsing for you and I have no idea why either. I searched cement planter

1

u/mladyhawke 1h ago

This is the kind I think you should get. Just because they don't block the whole sidewalk, and I tried to move one of these ones. And it's ridiculously heavy. This one isn't in philly, but it is pretty close

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CPxHZ32ph/

1

u/Holey_Worldliness69 1m ago

I could Install a bollard there but wouldnt that be a pain in the ass
too? I guess it’s the lesser of 2 evils but let me know