Pothole Amy's ride
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Pothole Amy's ride
Postby nusha » Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:23 pm
Surely if you have organised an event to promote cycling safety and 3000 odd cyclists will be going through, many without clear vision of the road such a dangerous hazard should have been addressed.
The pothole should either have been fixed or coned off.
Instead, many of us ended up with badly damaged wheels. - Mine are no longer useable but I guess i should consider myself "lucky" I didn't bring down the pack of 15 guys with me.
I am furious that the council and bikesa overlooked the safety of the route.
Worse still - a post stating someone informed the council and bikesa the week before of this hazard.
Anyone have similar experiences?
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby monbeg » Wed Nov 09, 2011 11:33 pm
It is one of just a few items that I will be addressing on the survey email that they have sent out asking for comments.
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby MichaelB » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:14 am
My suggestion is be polite, but firm. Contact BikeSA, ask for assistance and then contact the council. Above all, be polite and seek help/recompense.
Also, learn from the experience.
Good luck.
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby }SkOrPn--7 » Thu Nov 10, 2011 1:25 pm
If this event is for safety awareness (As I think it is because I don't pay much attention to such events) then why be upset at the organisers or councils after all taking responsibility for your own action and heeding safety as a rider falls on our shoulders. Riding in a clump up peoples clacker with little time for visual awareness isn't what I call being safe for such a ride to promote such things. I just feel that folks these days need to stand up/own up a bit more than pass the buck for everything that goes wrong in there life.
Ricky
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby liamb » Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:08 pm
Just my thoughts
Bill
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby nusha » Fri Nov 11, 2011 10:31 pm
For me it certainly is not a normal weekend ride, I do not regularly get up on my weekends to ride with 3000 others of completely variable fitness and bike handling skills. Perhaps naively I assumed that someone would have checked the roads prior to event day - after all it was no surprise we were out there. Riding with so many people does obscure vision of the road, it doesn't take a genius to work that out.
And as far as the council paying to fix the road prior to the event - well that's not for me to say but I truly believe it absolutely should have been coned off - so it would have been visible. Why do I think that? Because - at a minimum that is what I would have done.
I also do agree that overall the day was otherwise very well organized just a shame than cyclists safety not considered a priority.
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby feeltherush » Sat Nov 12, 2011 5:35 pm
Let's hope that they can both learn from this and make next year's ride that much better for it.
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby MichaelB » Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:29 am
They couldn't cone it off, as the road was not closed (unlike the Expressway). They could have had some warning though.nusha wrote: ....but I truly believe it absolutely should have been coned off - so it would have been visible. Why do I think that? Because - at a minimum that is what I would have done.
I also do agree that overall the day was otherwise very well organized just a shame than cyclists safety not considered a priority.
To think that BikeSA doesn't consider biker safety as a priority is now taking it too far. It's a silly statement, and whilst I had some sympathy, that's now gone.
Build a bridge and move on.
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby rustychisel » Mon Nov 14, 2011 12:40 pm
anyhoo, to broaden the point if I may. Riding in the Hills on the weekend with an Victorian acquaintance he made the point after we'd descended Montacute Road that some of these most used hills roads are in a truly crap condition and all that will be needed come January is for one or two of our interstate or overseas visitors to hit a bad rut, or pothole and the goodwill and PR we claim as a 'cycling state' will be gone in a flash.
He's right. For the want of some remedial work we could have the best cycling roads in the country. I'm thinking of the main access points... the old Freeway needs some surface work (and a little cleaning wouldn't go astray), New Norton Summit used to be wonderful but the lower reaches in particular are absolutely shameful due to the earthmoving equipment and building trucks which have used it over the past 4 years or so, and Montacute above the CFS is dangerously split, front heaved and poxy. Through the valley on Montacute is great, but the most dangerous section has always been at the top. And Gorge Road , well, Gorge Road has to be shared with quarry vehicles, but the deterioration of the road surface has to be better managed. The difference in surface quality above and below the quarry gates is marked.
I think if one cyclist is thrown off their bike by a poor quality road which gets them into difficulties then it's one too many; and quite avoidable.
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby MichaelB » Mon Nov 14, 2011 3:27 pm
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby Daccordi Rider » Mon Nov 14, 2011 3:40 pm
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby buzz » Tue Nov 15, 2011 1:29 am
Short of repairing the road, the only preventive measure I could envision would be some spray paint. But realistically even if the pot hole was marked if you weren't in a position to react in time to avoid the pothole then spray paint or other warnings would not have worked in your case.
As I seem to be saying to a large percentage of wobbly and absent minded cyclists of late 'EYES UP'!!!! Generally as a rule of thumb when I am cycling I have find its best to look where I'm going!
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby you cannot be sirrus » Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:37 am
Some great points Rusty. I think we get used to deteriorating road surfaces and stop noticing then until we come to a good surface. I sometimes ride along Piggot Range Rd which is as smooth as silk and a pleasure to ride on. It shouldn't be impossible to maintain a decent surface on all roads IMO, especially those we are showcasng during events like the TDU (or Classic Adelaide rally).rustychisel wrote:I'm kind of in agreement Michael, but people come up with some silly stuff on the i'net they wouldn't say in normal conversation.
anyhoo, to broaden the point if I may. Riding in the Hills on the weekend with an Victorian acquaintance he made the point after we'd descended Montacute Road that some of these most used hills roads are in a truly crap condition and all that will be needed come January is for one or two of our interstate or overseas visitors to hit a bad rut, or pothole and the goodwill and PR we claim as a 'cycling state' will be gone in a flash.
He's right. For the want of some remedial work we could have the best cycling roads in the country. I'm thinking of the main access points... the old Freeway needs some surface work (and a little cleaning wouldn't go astray), New Norton Summit used to be wonderful but the lower reaches in particular are absolutely shameful due to the earthmoving equipment and building trucks which have used it over the past 4 years or so, and Montacute above the CFS is dangerously split, front heaved and poxy. Through the valley on Montacute is great, but the most dangerous section has always been at the top. And Gorge Road , well, Gorge Road has to be shared with quarry vehicles, but the deterioration of the road surface has to be better managed. The difference in surface quality above and below the quarry gates is marked.
I think if one cyclist is thrown off their bike by a poor quality road which gets them into difficulties then it's one too many; and quite avoidable.
Recently I've ridden on the Stuart O'Grady track, it's like chalk and cheese compared with the Veloway. Hopefully there will be some money left over from the SExy duplication to resurface the bike path.
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby liamb » Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:16 am
Bill
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby rustychisel » Tue Nov 15, 2011 10:05 am
I can believe a complete resurface of Gorge Road would be mega expensive, but..liamb wrote:One thing to consider guys is the cost to completely resurface roads that are really made for cars and car go fine on them, and I suspect the whinging and moaning from all the tools about entire roads being closed for some months will be too much to bear. My neighbor who is a road safety consultant told me to resurface the bad section of George road would run to well over 20 million dollars alone!!!! and there would be a significant time to do it as there are really no detour options, so it would be one side then the other side and many months of holes, gravel, rocks and dangerous conditions for all. We really need to consider what the roads are there for, cars and transport vehicles in the main and how the road affects them. Once the roads fail to take care of the vehicles then there will be investigations and then a budget and then the money will need to be found and then maybe it will happen. Anyway for me if the road is not suitable for me I just dont use it, there are so many great roads in SA I dont need to use bad roads. (my only real hated road is the section of North East road from the Tea Tree Gully Hotel up to Haughton. Very , very bad surface and dangerous motorists. having said that my drive home from the river is smooth as down there in the car!!!)
Bill
- France manages it, resurfacing roads before the TDF comes through. Bet it doesn't cost that much.
- it's already dangerous, that's partly my point.
- why in any reasonable assessment would we (cyclists) accept second best? We're also car drivers, some of us are truck drivers, we're cyclists, tax payers etc. Why accept second best?
- you appear to have answered your own question in the negative with your noting of NE Road to Houghton, thus shooting yourself in the foot. We all know some areas of bad road, some appalling, I like riding Brownhill Creek Road to the end just because it is such a piece of cr4p. The City streets around Hindmarsh Square have awful tarmac ridges and lumps squeezed up by buses, but that's not my point.
- I'm talking about tourist routes, cycling visitors, and having our State on show as a cycling friendly destination. Do you really want me to show visitors the lifting slabs of tarmac on the old freeway climb and say 'that's the best we can do'? I didn't think so.
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby liamb » Tue Nov 15, 2011 10:38 am
Firstly I would really like to see all roads in SA perfectly glass flat surfaces with no blemishes and I would also like to have every road closed that I ride on so my mates can ride the best lines in total safety, reality is none of these will ever happen!
As far as NE road goes what I was trying to say was it is so bad on the bike that I avoid it, but in the car I have no problems what so ever. I can assure you after speaking with my next door neighbor, vehicles will over ride a bike any day as the people who assign the money to projects would see little or no benefit to pleasing a cyclist as they dont see us transporting goods and services. ( I dont agree but that is what the govt department will see).
You cant compare the TDF to Adelaide, it is chalk and cheese. The TDF is and ocean compared to our little lake TDU. (I love the TDU but it will never be the TDF) The amount of people watching The TDF is probably over 1000 times that would watch the TDU. The french govt probably ( I have no idea but) collect tens of millions of dollars every day of the TDF so can justify repairing every bit of bad roads in the event but you still see terrible road on the SBS vision.
Unfortunately as with the Vehicle death toll it take way too many deaths for anyone to consider the conditions of the roads and the impact that has on the death toll. A few cyclists breaking wheels will not result in a resurface, I really want safe roads and agree that we as cyclist deserve it just as much as vehicles but my reality check tells me it will not happen, along with comments from my neighbor.
I hate being negative but as I said my reality check says there will need to be dramatic accidents to result in resurfacing. I wish we had and want the best roads in the country but in my 50 000km on the road in my work vehicle I see terrible roads each and every day that have been there for as long as I can remember and with funds being poured into South Road and the Express way things like our favorite downhills and roads wont get much attention for a while.
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby Daccordi Rider » Tue Nov 15, 2011 10:41 am
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby MichaelB » Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:37 pm
Just sent PM. Made it without stopping, but that last steep section is one MOTHER !!!!!Daccordi Rider wrote:Off topic but how did you go up Woodland Way Michael?
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby MichaelB » Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:47 pm
Rusty, you'll be horribly surprised at how quick the cost add up. You should see how much it costs to lay water/sewer pipes, and do things like submersible pump stations to pump poo in the streets.rustychisel wrote:
I can believe a complete resurface of Gorge Road would be mega expensive, but..
....
That's why water rates are high !!!!
As a side note, did anyone who watched the Tour of Beijing notice that some of the roads that they raced on looked freshly laid and painted without any prior traffic ....
Back to topic. Potholes. Crap happens sometimes. Lucky it's only a wheel !!
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby MichaelB » Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:22 pm
Just spoke to a guy at work involved in re-sheeting roads.MichaelB wrote:Rusty, you'll be horribly surprised at how quick the cost add up. .....rustychisel wrote:
I can believe a complete resurface of Gorge Road would be mega expensive, but..
....
For reasonable sized jobs, it's $140/tonne (for 25mm thick, 10mm gravel hotmix) which does about 14 sq. m, and therefore $10/sq metre. Note that this is laying cost only, not any prep work, profiling, traffic managemnt costs etc. To patch a pothole type scanario, it's $300/tonne.
It ain't cheap love !!
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby rustychisel » Wed Nov 16, 2011 11:12 pm
My real point, why accept second best?
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby you cannot be sirrus » Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:04 am
I observed the same, rural hills roads that looked as smooth as silk. I guess labour is cheap over there.MichaelB wrote:Rusty, you'll be horribly surprised at how quick the cost add up. You should see how much it costs to lay water/sewer pipes, and do things like submersible pump stations to pump poo in the streets.rustychisel wrote:
I can believe a complete resurface of Gorge Road would be mega expensive, but..
....
That's why water rates are high !!!!
As a side note, did anyone who watched the Tour of Beijing notice that some of the roads that they raced on looked freshly laid and painted without any prior traffic ....
Back to topic. Potholes. Crap happens sometimes. Lucky it's only a wheel !!
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby eeksll » Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:01 pm
China spare no expenses when they are on the international stage.you cannot be sirrus wrote:I observed the same, rural hills roads that looked as smooth as silk. I guess labour is cheap over there.
I second Piggott Range Rd, that is one NICE road. Bottom of Montactue rd is nice also.
There is a pot hole towards the center of the road coming down Montacute before institute rd (sorry thats the best I can describe it at the moment )
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby BRLVR.v2 » Tue Nov 22, 2011 9:00 pm
Motion 2nd'dDaccordi Rider wrote:I just want them to be glass free!
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Re: Pothole Amy's ride
Postby arknotnoahs » Wed Nov 23, 2011 7:58 am
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