Circus in Town - Stirling - look out for the water pipe

[rolandp]

Hosey is back, went through the area at around 9:00pm where the little snake of a hose is running over Civic Place.

Followed the hose to the fire hydrant on Civic Place. Love this as the way to connect to the water supply:


So, I've answered my question to City of Stirling - no they don't have a permanent solution to this issue (shame as I've been in communication with them for almost two years on the subject), and no they didn't think it was important enough to deal with today or even respond to my e-mail.

Slow down when in the area, it is a bump and has been known to spring a leak in previous years

[rolandp]

I haven't heard back from City of Stirling, but a picture says one hundred words:

Thursday 3rd March 2011


Friday 4th March 2011

I've pulled the mat thing off the path this evening.

[Aushiker]

Hi

Meant to post about this yesterday. The hose at the angle it is could be pretty dam dangerous if the hose gets wet for those cyclists heading north ... could see a front wheel going out pretty easy. Both times I have ridden it this week there was no mat/carpet on it.

The City of Stirling has some serious issues here and I suspect would be facing a claim if something happens. The circus should have its own water tanker as its water source.

Regards
Andrew

[Mulger bill]

That is a stack waiting for the right candidate.

Can you scrounge up some material for a sign?

WARNING!
This hose will hurt a cyclist.
Local council has been told and done NOTHING!

[rolandp]

Got a response from City of Stirling on Tuesday that they were building a ramp over the hose and signage put in place notifying pedestrians and cyclist of the hazard.

Result today:

It is one solid ramp that will send you up and over if you hit it with speed. Slow down when approaching. I love the direction of the sign, which has been installed for the benifit of the motorist, not those using the shared path.

I also had an image from 2008:

where similar ramps were installed. I recall helping a fellow cyclist up who had hit it. I feel like I'm in a Groundhog Day movie where the circus comes to town, and several attempts are made to resolve this hose, with no real result achieved, and the circus then leaves, the day starts again when the circus comes again, and we do it over again.

[Kalgrm]

It sounds like the circus never leaves town: the clowns are on the council.

[Trepidious]

I could handle the pipe and safety sticky tape. It wasn't that much of an issue to run over as at that stage it was at least off the line through the bend. You had at least had a chance to get your bike upright before hitting it.

Now however... It's tempting to put up signs linking to this thread to collect evidence from anyone who stacks it over the ramps. What's protocol on doing something like this?

[Aushiker]

Hi

Sorry this is a little late, but this was shot before the latest "hazard reduction" steps by the Council.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH2SSLCKK5I&tracker=False[/youtube]

Andrew

[rolandp]

Spoke to CoS on Friday (no-one had responded to my last e-mail), and asked them to review the area. They promised to give me an update once the review was complete.

Rode through the area on Saturday, and the sign has been moved so it is more visable than previously. Took some shots of the 'ramp':

The height is around 5cm, based on the size of a credit card.

[rolandp]

and this evening:

[rolandp]

Had feedback from CoS today, as I had emailed them yesterday including the images earlier:
Given that the ramp has moved significantly I have asked the circus to remove it today. It would be great if the cycle path ran directly along the freeway. I will make a note in the file for future events at Hertha Road Reserve regarding the water hose.

I didn't ride home this way (coast route for me), but hopefully the ramp has gone, but the hose will still be there.

[trailgumby]

A box cutter and a couple of minutes work in the early hours of the morning to remove the hazard off the road would send a message that's a bit more difficult to ignore.

In fact, maybe do so before they leave this year so that the message is received loud and clear to plan the water supply differently before they get to town next time.

[rolandp]

The circus arrived back on Monday, with the big-tent going up today. The good news is it a different circus, and so far they haven't installed that annoying water hose over Civic Place.

They have installed warning signs "cyclists beware of pedestrians" near their entrance. Nice of them (sarcastic tone).

[orbeas]

Also look out for cars not stopping at the stop signs

[eldavo]

Epic thread, the photo time lapse over 3 years, it involving a circus, it's all just too much!
I'll have to contribute a 2012 photo from my ride home past it tonight.

Roland deserves a City of Stirling council citizenship recognition award of some sort "Doing our job for all of us"

[rolandp]

And the big tent was rolled up and the circus left the City of Stirling location today.

Very interesting that they did not need the water pipe, even though their competitors in previous years did (note, it was a different circus).

I'll take that award now, though could you nominate be for for Order of Australia, please.

[rolandp]

Aston Circus is back, and so is the water pipe:


Request sent off to City of Stirling - again.

This is the site where we have had a couple of cyclists down in the last couple of months, so, take care.

Note, this post is now several years old, and annually this occurs with the exception of 2012 - in 2012 the circus came to this location, but didn't need the hose. I like the 2012 circus.

[rolandp]

Heard back from City of Stirling. "Pedestrians Watch Your Step" signs have been installed (they ran out of out more appropriate signs).

[rolandp]

They are back, tent installed today. Water pipe not installed at this time.

Letter being sent off to City of Stirling next requesting the water pipe not to be located over the shared path or where we exit from the shared path.

[rolandp]

Heard from City of Stirling on Friday.

AND

They agree that the hose makes the area less safe, and the event (it may not be a circus this time), has to supply their own water.

Many thanks to the City of Stirling for finally recognising the issue.