Closing the freeway, who's smart idea was that?
That was the comment my business partner made to me today, he lives in the hills and whilst not affected by the closure couldn't see the point of it. I'm inclined to agree with him. We strive week in and week out to co-exist on the roads with motorists, but when we (or Bike SA) want a special bike ride, they close off the road, Highway 1 no less, to the vast majority of the travelling public. How to win friends and influence people. How many motorists were inconvenienced yesterday, and what will their ongoing opinion of cyclists be, as a result?
I discussed the Amy's Gran Fondo ride with my g/f over the weekend as I might do that this year (call me a hypocrite) and her reaction was "What if you are an overseas tourist and that day you planned to drive the GOR and can't because it's closed for a bunch of wannabe Cadel's" (subtlety is not her strong suit).
If we want to be taken seriously as legitimate road users, maybe we just need to "suck it up" and ride with the cars.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
The recent car race in the eastern parklands closes some roads near the CBD for days to weeks, depending on the road. It also closes shared paths and in theory closes public parkland for 6 months, while a construction site during assembly and dismantling.
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Permalink Reply by Matt Jones on -
The bogans go to that event and the Eastern Suburbs gentry are inconvenienced.
This is the reverse, The gentry go to this event and the Bogans are inconvenienced.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on -
And then theres the road closures for Oakbank, steer well clear of that area over Easter.
And theres the annual Bay to Birdwood event.
The Classic car rally.
The city to bay.
The 1% ers picnic runs, no roads officially closed but the escort police bikes with blue flashing lights standing in the middle of junctions seem to over rule the traffic lights.
Norwood Parade Food fair
North Ad Food fair
The annual kids in trucks event.
Keep clear of Westlakes on home game days.
And what about the road closures for all those bloody hippies for the fringe festival parade.
So far we don't have a city car free day, maybe we could have 52 event days where certain streets have to be closed, JUST DON'T TRY HAVING ONE IN MY STREET.
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Permalink Reply by Jase "Flatty" C on
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Ah Clive. Straight to the nub of the matter as always :) +1
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Permalink Reply by Colnagasm on -
Classic Clive, and spot on. 'Significant' public events bring about changes to the normal operation of our roads, parks, public transport etc. Welcome to life in a community.
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Permalink Reply by Alasdair McLellan on -
The bogans don't tend to go to the City to Bay or the Classic Adelaide Rally...
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Permalink Reply by Simon Lownsborough on -
LOL!
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Permalink Reply by Patrick O'Kane on -
..and the Xmas pageant. I guess the difference is we are nobs in lycra and are fair game for criticism.
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Permalink Reply by Martin Turner on -
A section of the freeway was closed for 2 hours on a Sunday morning......my response to any moaning motorists....suck it up Princess and enjoy a taste of what it used to be like driving "up the hill" before the tunnels went in.
I was sitting at my favourite Stirling cafe on saturday morning when I heard an old girl moaning to her table mate about the ride. When I mentioned that the closure was only for a two hour period and the ride was in aid of The Smith Family she changed her tune markedly and agreed it wasnt such a big deal.
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Permalink Reply by colin ware-lane on -
it was only closed in one way and only for 1.5hrs poor old motorists had to use the old road just like b4 the tunnels were built.
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