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The text
below is comprised of extracts of several emails on this subject.
Here is a map
of the Fed. Trail, which I have altered by marking it to show the things
that leave me with the feeling of being short changed. The map is a concept and not
accurate or to scale. But having said that, the locations of
objects and hazards are reasonably marked according to location along
the Trail.
I have marked (X) for bollards. Bollards are the equivalent of a power poles in the middle of a roadway and should be removed for the same reasons a power pole should be removed. They are acceptable at road junctions. I have
marked (III) for the grate which must be
re-fabricated to prevent bicycle wheels slipping on it when wet and
being able to enter the grate between the bars of the grate.
I have
marked (I^^^^I) for only those rough
sections of the Fed. Trail surface, I could detect riding my
Full Suspension Mountain Bicycle and where I had
the space on the map to draw them.
I have
marked (-10 sec)
for the approximate time (From my green light, to the road traffic
green light) a group of cyclists has to clear the roadway at the
pedestrian crossings along the Fed. Trail, before being hit by
a car or truck. The time it takes for these pedestrian
traffic lights to go through their cycle once the button is pushed,
allows too short a time for pedestrian cyclists to walk
across.
There
about four locations including Forsyth Rd., where there are no
pedestrian lights and no zebra crossing, yet cyclists are required to
'dismount'. The speed limit in Forsyth Rd. needs to
be reduced to 70 km/h and zebra crossings installed at all locations
where there are no pedestrian lights, or the 'cyclist dismount' signs
should be removed.
I have
also marked (I I) for the
Chicanes on either side of Jones Rd. Brooklyn.
Chicanes do not allow adult tricycles, recumbent bicycles,
trail-a-bikes, Kiddicarriers, bicycle trailers, wheelchairs, etc. to
proceed beyond the chicane obstruction without manually dismantling
and/or lifting such vehicles over this kind of
obstruction. They need to be removed.
Dear Liz, Thank you
for your E-mail to me, advertising the opening of the
Federation Trial on last Sunday 22/10/2006, which I attended.
I along
with other road cyclists, have been banned from riding along the
Princess FWY from Hoppers Crossing to Laverton, for at least the last 4
years.
It was
therefore with the anticipation created by the speeches of
Mr. Peter Bachelor (Minister for Transport) and Mr. Harry Barber (BV) ,
that I commenced to ride my Road Bicycle home to Newport along the
Federation Trail. A journey of approximately 17 km.
I had not
reached Forsyth Rd. when I saw my first bollard, which was to be the
first in a list of disappointments, hazards and malfunctions, which I
have experienced and photographed.
It is
risky for me as a road cyclist while riding along the Fed. Trail, to
get off/dismount from my bicycle 8-9 times as signposted and walk
across roads at the pedestrian traffic lights, in 10 - 35
seconds with cleats on the sole of my cycling shoes, without
my feet slipping on the roadway.
By the
time I left the Fed. Trail at Millers Rd. Nth. Altona, the
continual jarring of the rough surface of the Trail had left me with a
sore neck, shoulders and a headache, all part of the
aggravation of a TAC injury.
In spite
of these ill-effects, I decided to 'Audit' the 'Trail' and rode the
Trail again on Tuesday 24/10/2006 in the same direction, but this time
riding my Full Suspension Mountain Bicycle.
Subsequently,
the impact upon me of the jarring effects of the rough surface of the
Trail, were obviously reduced.
While
riding this day, I noted and photographed that the bollard west of
Forsyth Rd. had been collided with, leaving bicycle debris on the
pavement.
Those I
have spoken to about the surface have stated that is very rough.
I liken
the very rough sections of the Trail, being equivalent to that
of tar and screenings being placed on top of a corrugated and
pot-holed dirt road.
I am told
the Fed. Trail is worse between Skeleton Ck. and the Werribee
River. This I will see for myself before I submit a comment
to you.
Having
heard that the section of the Federation Trail form Skeleton Ck. to the
Werribee River was rougher, I decided that an 'Audit' of that section
needed to occur.
So on the
31st of October, I rode my Full Suspension Mountain Bike from Nth.
Altona to the Werribee River and returned to exit
the Federation Trail at Sayers Rd. to access Wackett St. Laverton then
return home via Altona.
I noted
during the ride that another bollard had appeared to have been collided
with by a cyclist. I think this one was just before Doherty's
Rd. A bicycle tire mark was observed at the base of the
bollard on the eastern face.
I have
concerns about trucks crossing the Federation Trail at the location of
the old alignment of Forsyth Rd. For safety reasons fences
should be erected at this location to stop this practice .
I
was delighted to see the Trail continue on the stretch of land
between the FWY and the train line from Skeleton Ck. almost to Hoppers
Xing railway station. It would seem that someone took note of
my suggestion for this land to be used for a high-speed bicycle road.
However,
there now needs to be a bridge attached to the railway bridge over
Skeleton Ck. and the trail continued all the way to Triholm Ave. and
Aircraft railway station, in order to create a direct off-road
link between Werribee and Laverton.
Given it
can take up to 10 minutes pass in both directions through the
intersection of Old Geelong Rd. and the Princess HWY to access and
leave Hoppers Lane, I recommend that cyclists turn with the traffic
both ways and not use the pedestrian signals to travel on the
Federation Trail.
I have
issues concerning safety involving the crossing of 3 driveways while
riding along the Trail in Hoppers La. accessing Hoppers Xing campus of
Vic. Uni. A situation where cars and other vehicles do not face a 'Give
way to cyclist' sign as is the situation with the truck stop on the
Footscray Rd. Path. There should be 'Give way to cyclist'
signs at these locations.
There is a
open 300 mm pipe half way down Hoppers La. which
provides cyclists with about a 400 mm drop and sudden stop, if they
should ride off the Trail at this location. A barricade needs
to be installed at this location to prevent injury.
The best
surface I experienced on the whole ride was between Duncan's Rd. and
the Werribee River. At this location the road base was
prepared properly and the aggregate appears to have been rolled
in. Not like the majority of the rest of the Trail.
I feel
that Government and cyclists alike, have been cheated out of the smooth
road surface for which contractors were commissioned.
I am
disappointed that from Nth. Altona to the Werribee River there is no
safe 'jump off' points for the Trail except at Hoppers Xing railway
station.
There
needs to be on-road bicycle lanes on Leeks Rd. and Kororoit Ck Rd. all
the way to Williamstown and on Sayers Rd. and Old Geelong Rd. to access
Laverton.
If you or
other Vicroads officers would like to discuss the content of this
E-mail and/or review the photographic evidence I have collected, my
contact details are supplied below.
The
Federation Trail is an excellent facility for recreation and
slow speed commuter cycling,
but as I
found out it is not suitable for cyclists who use road bikes for
rehab/fitness/training as I as I do, or for high speed
commuting.
This is
because of the rough surface and the fact the Trail/footpath does not
as other trails/paths do not, take cyclists directly and in a near as
possible straight line to where they want to go.
There
still needs to be a direct on-road link between Werribee and Laverton.
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