Installation of bollards is fundamental to keeping city safe
Re Toronto needs bollards and it needs them now, Aug. 14
Heather Mallick’s opinion piece on bollards doesn’t rise to my level of humour and misses a much sharper point.
And that is, for years, vulnerable targets of hate crimes have been places of worship and business districts.
In 2011, I had occasion to be in Berlin and my hotel was opposite the Central Orthodox Synagogue (Joachimstaler Str. 13). I took an opportunity to speak with the Berlin police officer on guard outside the synagogue and took notice of the security bollards installed at its entrance. It provided an impressive and effective security to thwart terrorists.
Two blocks away was the site of the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market; regrettably, without a police presence or security bollards installed. After the tragic Christmas 2016 terrorist truck attack at Breitscheidplatz, security bollards were installed in addition to a uniformed Berlin police presence.
The legendary German fashion district of Kurfurstendamm was effectively protected from terrorist attacks. And Berlin’s Mauerpark, a popular meeting place, is protected by security bollards and anti-terrorist barriers to preventing terrorist attacks with vehicles. Police and ambulance personnel can enter the park by a number of security bollards that are retractable.
In Munich, security bollards illuminated in red protect the Jewish community centres and synagogues from unauthorized access.
Toronto’s urban planners should incorporate bollard security as an integral part of Toronto’s policing and community safety programmes.