Types Of Street Furniture In Creating Safer, Smarter Public Spaces

Modern urban spaces are required to do much more than simply allow people to move from place to place. They must keep them safe, comfortable and engaged. However, increased pedestrian activity brings with it evolving security risks alongside those expectations for aesthetically pleasing spaces. 

This means that street furniture now plays a far more important role in city planning than ever before and everything from benches and planters to bollards and cycle rails has to blend usability with discreet street furniture security. This ensures crowds are protected without impacting open spaces or passage.

In this latest guide, we explore the smart street furniture that is shaping modern urban environments.

What Is Street Furniture And Why Is It Important For Security?

First things first: when we talk about street furniture, what do we mean? The term refers to any permanent or semi-permanent fixtures installed in public areas to enhance functionality, comfort and safety. This includes things such as benches, bollards, planters, cycle racks and protective barriers, and these can be placed in any public space, including plazas, footpaths, transport hubs and civic precincts.

While convenience and urban design were once the primary concerns, nowadays their role has expanded to include pedestrian protection, especially in critical infrastructure zones or areas of high foot traffic. However, while the furniture must provide hostile vehicle mitigation, it must also maximise user comfort, aesthetic appeal and guide vehicle and pedestrian flow. 

Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Barrier For Public Spaces

Traditional concrete block systems offer limited protection against fast-moving vehicles, Under high-energy impact, they may fragment or roll out of their foundations – compromising safety.

Safetyflex Has Changed This.

Our newly developed concrete block and anti-sink cradle system delivers robust hostile mitigation for a wide range of environments, including public realm schemes and critical infrastructure sites.

Crash tested up to 7.2 tonnes

Single tested system

30 mph/48 kph impact performance

Shallow Foundation Requirement: 200 mm deep

Seating Solutions That Enhance Safety 

Public seating is essential for comfort, but when strategically placed, benches can also help define pedestrian zones and guide foot traffic safely away from vehicle areas. Modern multi-functional seating solutions serve the dual purpose of restricting vehicle access while preserving the welcoming nature of public spaces. 

A prime example of this is our Ezi Security Systems Crash Bench 40, an IWA-14-certified crash-rated bench designed to provide seating while functioning as a security block. This product ensures that urban planners are able to seamlessly integrate safety features into community spaces without appearing obvious.

Adding Greenery With Planters 

Planters bring life and greenery to urban environments while also serving an important protective role. When installed strategically, large planters help prevent unauthorised vehicle entry into pedestrian zones by providing physical resistance without visually dominating public areas. 

This makes them ideal for shopping strips, civic plazas and transport hubs seeking both beauty and safety. To this end, EZI Security Systems can provide a range of solutions, including our Surface Mounted Planter 40, which integrates into streetscapes with ease and our permanent In Ground Planter, which offers robust and attractive, long-term protection. 

Bollards That Blend Security And Street Style

Bollards remain one of the most effective methods of controlling vehicle access and modern designs are able to ensure protection without detracting from urban usability. Semi-automatic and rising bollards offer flexible access control, allowing authorised vehicles to enter while keeping pedestrian areas secure at other times.

We have a wide range of options available at Ezi Security Systems, all designed to provide highly effective pedestrian protection without compromising impact aesthetics. Each bollard has been carefully designed to fit visually into modern, daily city life, helping urban planners maintain attractive public spaces. 

Cycle Rails: Practical And Protective Street Furniture 

Cycling is a valuable part of supporting a healthier and more sustainable city, but safe bicycle parking is vital to respect pedestrian movement and urban safety needs. Cycle rails and hoops can act as low-level protective barriers while serving their primary purpose and when properly positioned, they help define pedestrian zones and discourage vehicle encroachment.

Our Ezi Cycle Rail is a PAS-68-rated solution that provides functional bike parking and a host of protective benefits. This makes it an ideal addition to modern street furniture security planning, helping cities to promote active lifestyles without impacting safety. 

Integrated Street Furniture Combinations 

When it comes to street furniture security, the most effective urban protection strategies use layered solutions rather than relying on a single barrier type. This means planners look to combine benches, bollards and planters as layers of safety. For example, seating may define pedestrian zones, planters can reinforce access restrictions and bollards can protect vehicle entry points, meaning that together, these elements provide both usability and discreet protection.

Integrated street furniture security designs support safer pedestrian corridors, plazas and transport precincts while helping to maintain an inviting environment. At EZI Security Systems, we specialise in developing coordinated solutions for our clients that help precincts across Australia achieve layered protection outcomes.

How To Choose The Right Street Furniture 

Selecting appropriate street furniture depends on site-specific requirements and urban planners and facility managers must assess a number of things, including:

• Risk and threat profiles
• Pedestrian and vehicle flow patterns
• Accessibility needs
• Urban design requirements and heritage considerations. 

Some environments may benefit from more heavy-duty planters, while others may require rising bollards or crash-rated seating. Aesthetic integration also plays a major role, especially in civic and cultural precincts, which is why at EZI Security Systems, we can assist authorities and planners in designing tailored street furniture security strategies that enhance safety and usability. 

Installation And Maintenance Considerations 

Alongside the products themselves, correct placement is also crucial for ensuring your street furniture performs as intended in high-use environments. When installing them, you must account for things such as pedestrian and vehicle flow, emergency access and maintenance access, while materials must be able to withstand long-term use and exposure to the elements. Regular maintenance is equally important to ensure protective elements remain fully functional, with regular inspections and servicing helping to  maintain both appearance and performance. 

Enhancing Public Spaces With Purpose-Built Street Furniture 

Security-focused street furniture offers cities the opportunity to enhance safety while improving public space usability and visual appeal. By integrating seating, planters, bollards and cycle infrastructure, authorities can create layered protection systems that support community activity rather than restrict it. 

If you are looking to transform your town or city whilst maximising pedestrian safety, then Ezi Security Systems is here to support you.

From crash-rated benches and planters to integrated bollards and cycle rails, our street furniture solutions can enhance safety without compromising on design.

Want to find out more?  Contact our team today, who will be happy to help find the right solution for you.