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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=118192403-18092009><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial>You can imagine the sequence. Overworked DMR Met
Branch functionary briefly eyeballs Council drawing and says yeah,
fine. Then the thing actually gets built and the complaints start
to roll in. Maybe even a Ministerial. "Sh.t, rip it up,
now!" So it's in Council's too hard basket until when, exactly? Five
years now, I think.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=118192403-18092009><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=118192403-18092009><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial>The real problem here isn't Council's bikeway crossing, it's DMR's
intersection design. When I briefly studied traffic engineering at UQ
decades ago, this brand new two lane roundabout was considered
absolute bee's knees. Doubt anyone would be so stupid now.
A signalised intersection would function much better, and be much more
urban-friendly. I suspect there'd be room for exclusive left and
right lanes on Milton outbound, avoiding the high speed left turn
rear-ender at the bikeway. There could be some increased storage inbound
on the freeway, but stuff 'em.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=118192403-18092009><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=118192403-18092009><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial>Now that Northlink no longer touches this perhaps something will
actually get done. That's assuming the Trans Apex tunnel from here to
Dutton Park is finally dead and buried. (Have to be, wouldn't it, when
you've just sunk $1B of ratepayer's readies into the other tunnel? "No
direct cost to Council...")</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=118192403-18092009><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=118192403-18092009><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial>G.</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR>
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<FONT face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> bikeqld-bounces@bikeqld.org.au
[mailto:bikeqld-bounces@bikeqld.org.au] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>kim<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, 18 September 2009 12:32 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
bikeqld@bikeqld.org.au<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: [bikeqld] Re: Miskin St crossing
(was Re: info (missing) aboutbikeways)<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>Thanks Ian for separating that one out, I think I probably got
carried away in my last rant about Council :) .<BR>I pointed out to Council
that this crossing point was in MR jurisdiction as they control 50m up the
side roads including Miskin St. They said that they had got the nod from MR
which really leaves you wondering how that was the case. I was actually a bit
surprised when I saw what was really a traffic calming measure on this road
and now more surprised that Council did not think it out. It's kinda ironic
too that now they have a fresh black crossing there, and have widened the
refuge, that cars still think they need to stop if they see a bike on the
refuge or heading for it. I would advise cyclists to watch their situation if
cars do stop and then beckon them across just in case the car does get rear
ended, the motorist might claim that the cyclist was shooting out in front of
them. That two into one lane is bad on an intersection that size too.<BR>The
little dog leg to go from the crossing point(s) to the contra flow green lane
is not nice, its a bit off camber and has some trees which shed over it
creating a slippery condition for that sharp angle. As Michael Y pointed out,
forcing all the cycles on the blind side of the left turning buses (they go
left then around the roundabout and back up miskin to turn right into the
depot) is a bad move. Most cyclists I have seen just go diagonal onto the
green but it looks like there is an obstructing build out from the kerb there
planned. The whole thing seemed to just stop after they put that traffic calm
'in the wrong place'. I think by rights the green is supposed to have an edge
line too. Right now it is not apparent at night.<BR><BR>> Date: Thu, 17 Sep
2009 22:55:33 +1000<BR>> From: list-bikeqld@lister.dnsalias.net<BR>> To:
bikeqld@bikeqld.org.au<BR>> Subject: [bikeqld] Re: Miskin St crossing (was
Re: info (missing) about bikeways)<BR>> <BR>> P.S. for anybody not
familiar with the area, here's what we're talking <BR>> about:<BR>>
<BR>>
http://www.bikeqld.org.au/wiki/Image:Miskin_Street_crossing_August_2009.jpg<BR>>
http://www.bikeqld.org.au/wiki/Image:Miskin_Street_crossing_September_2009.jpg<BR>>
http://www.bikeqld.org.au/wiki/North_Toowong_corridor#Crossing_of_Miskin_Street<BR>>
<BR>> On Thu, 17 Sep 2009, Ian Lister wrote:<BR>> > On Wed, 16 Sep
2009, kim wrote:<BR>> > [snip]<BR>> >> One last note, I did ask
about the Toowong bus depot/Miskin St design.<BR>> >> I asked what
happened there. They told me that the red traffic<BR>> >>
calming/crossing point "was put in the wrong place".<BR>> >
[snip]<BR>> ><BR>> > Funnily enough, after a few attempts I had
somebody at Council call me back <BR>> > about this this morning, and
was told it was a "residential area entry <BR>> > treatment" and caused
problems because motorists got confused and started <BR>> > giving way
to cyclists on it (perish the thought). This was reported to have <BR>>
> lead to near-accidents as other motorists going (nearly) too fast for the
<BR>> > unexpected almost ran up the back of them.<BR>> ><BR>>
> The officer I spoke to (in the transport infrastructure unit) also
indicated <BR>> > there were no further plans to improve this crossing,
not even the holding <BR>> > rails that Cr Magub promised would be
restored however many (three?) years <BR>> > ago that it is now. If
anybody else here thinks this crossing needs some <BR>> > improvement, I
suggest you give Council a call (3403 8888) and let them know.<BR>>
><BR>> > Cheers,<BR>> ><BR>> > Ian<BR>> ><BR>>
<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> bikeqld
mailing list<BR>> bikeqld@bikeqld.org.au<BR>>
http://www.bikeqld.org.au/<BR>>
http://www.bikeqld.org.au/mailman/listinfo/bikeqld<BR>> This list has NO
affiliation with Bicycle Queensland.<BR><BR>
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