A pedestrian safety feature doesn't need to be ugly. Consider trees, or big rocks, or unusually sturdy art installations, or nice wrought iron poles with decorative flourishes.
That would be great! I'm imagining a hypothetical future where the city partners with local artists to produce bollards in disguise, each one unique and one of a kind piece of art.
How about guerilla gardening, except complete with setting up stone planters, the ones that probably weigh far north of 100 kg? I wonder what would happen if someone were to set up such a planter in the spot where a bollard ought to exist?