Takeaway #1

Bet you’ve seen a bollard. Bet you’ve passed by several ones. But I bet you didn’t know it’s called a BOLLARD! 

So, what is a Bollard (pronounced as buh’luhrd)?

Wikipedia.com says: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bollard)“A bollard is a short vertical post. Originally meaning a strong post used on a quay for mooring, the term is also used in the United Kingdom for a variety of structures to control or direct road traffic.

Bollards are strong metal posts that can be used to close a road or path to vehicles above a certain width. Bollards can be mounted close enough to block ordinary cars, for instance, but wide enough to permit special-purpose vehicles through. Bollards can be used to enclose car-free zones: removable bollards allow access for emergency vehicles.

The American Heritage Dictionary describes this use of Bollard as “chiefly British”, although the term has crept into the jargon of some American universities.

A recent development is the “rising bollard” – a bollard that can be lowered entirely below the road surface to enable traffic to pass, or raised to block traffic. Rising bollards are used to secure sensitive areas from attack, or to enforce traffic rules that are time related or restrict access to particular classes of traffic.”

So, where in the metro can you find these vertical structures? Sirit na?

Of course, in the land of the Binays, Makati City! Most prominently along the road of the Zobels, Ayala Avenue.

You know those yellow vertical structures that could damage your car if you’re DUI (read: driving under the influence…of alcohol!) hehehe.

So, the next time you are with a friend and find yourselves along Ayala Ave, try to impress him/her by educating him/her about bollards, your takeaway of the day.

(P.S. I’m trying my best to refer to both male and female sexes as equals by emphasizing the “him/her”) J