Paul Postle: Never mind the bollards

Following on from Mel's observations on bollards and how we are directed down a street, and Alison's comments on colour. I went back today to look again at these two elements. I noticed that temporary street diversions or physical restrictions are bright or Hi Vis, typically red or orange, whilst the permanent ones are sober colours, often black, white or pebbledash. I watched people approach the path diversion put up by the workman near the railway bridge. People walking in either direction had a choice to either take the path between the the orange fencing as instructed; squeeze behind along the wall in the opposite direction to the arrow on the sign, walk in the road on the outside of the safety barrier or lastly cross the road. I was surprised how many decided to walk in the road! Designers have a role in influencing such decision making. Behavioural economics either encourages or discourages people to make take that path. Maybe the use of Red on the sign and Hi Vis on the barriers are sub consciously read as a danger sign in some minds and they avoid the recommended path.