Dangerous Barrier.

[markharry66]

I work on an industrial estate. All the roads on the estates nave sleeping policeman.
Recently i was over joyed when they decided to remove one of them only to be replaced by an electronic barrier.
The barrier is down quite a lot and blocks the road except for one small cycle lane. Pushing all two wheeled traffic through one tiny cycle lane. Last night I was about to go through the lane when a scooter pushed its way through at speed. I hit the raised kerb smashed my bike up on bollard denting whell and destroying the tyre. The part of the barrier the relates to cars has lights on the cycle lane however does not and can be difficult to see in the dark with raised kerbs and metal bollards. To me this is not safe will post a picture. Where do I go from here leave it or do something about it .

 

[vickster]

Contact the council

If it's in a London borough, contact your local LCC committee and ask for their help

Assume the prat on the scooter didn't stop? Did they make any actual contact with you? If so, and if an LCC/CTC/BC member, you could seek legal advice as to whether you can take any action against him/her

 

[rualexander]

"difficult to see in the dark" ? What kind of lights were you using?

 

[mustang1]

"difficult to see in the dark" ? What kind of lights were you using?

Wow try posting that in the "cyclists don't need lights, you don't see cars in luminous paint so you?" thread (I think one will be created any time now ).

Op: real pita when something like that happens. I sympathise.

 

[I like Skol]

@markharry66 Not sure I understand your OP. Are you wanting to get the highways department/industrial estate landlord to alter the feature to prevent the idiots on mopeds endangering other road users, want to contact the police because you have been dangerously run off the road by an aggressive scooter rider, Want the council/landlord to alter the layout because it is inherently dangerous to the users or do you just want to claim against somebody because you rode into the barriers?
I remember another thread like this some time ago when a guy wanted to claim against anybody he could because he had fallen off his bike on the way to work. The upshot of his case was that he knew the path was restricted by roadworks, he knew the surface was a bit dodgy, he knew the adjacent undergrowth protruded in to the path and he knew the street lighting was poor in that area. Despite all of this he claimed it was somebody else's fault he had been knocked of his bike by the undergrowth when he had failed to ride at a speed suitable for the surface and the distance he could see to be clear. I and many others told him he should have been taking more care, riding more slowly and watching where he was going.
If you are looking to claim for your injuries and bike damage because you rode into the barriers then I would say you should have taken more care as you were familiar with the road layout and limitations of the feature. If you would like to suggest that the feature is changed to be more user friendly then go ahead, but I recommend you have a good alternative suggestion rather than just being critical of the current set up.

 

[mjr]

www.FixMyStreet.com but I think it should also be reported to local police as a hit-and-run (and possibly driving in a cycle lane, depending on what it looks like).

 

[jonny jeez]

The scooterist was exiting the estate...which means they will be back.

Sounds like you could find them them if you want.

 

[markharry66]

I wan two things as the barrier is down and pushing all two wheeled traffic through one lane there are no lights on the edge of the curb and the lane is to narrow. Its a crap design. The barrier should not be down if there is not ample enough room to pass with other traffic or there should be a lane either side as its dangerous.

 

[G-Zero]

In your OP you use two phrases which need a bit clarification "all two wheeled traffic" and "tiny cycle lane".

Awaiting your pics, but if it's a true cycle lane without a sign or notice allowing motor cycles to use it, then it should be only used by pedal cycles and motor scooters should be waiting for the barrier to raise. In any event, the scooter rider should not have forced you into the kerb and needs reporting.

 

[Drago]

I'm not sure I follow this. It's ok fora cyclist to squeeze around the edge, but not a sloped rider?