Wakehurst Parkway Sydney: a deathtrap for cyclists

The 'bike lane' on Wakehurst Parkway has been the subject of disruption due to the installation of a new pipeline by Downer EDI. The remediation work by the contractor has been of a temporary nature leaving many lethal corrugated bitumen patches which are virtually impossible to ride across on a road bike. As a result cyclists are forced to swerve out into the traffic lane to avoid the obstacles.

Compounding the problem is the new painted lane dividing line which has a juddering corrugated surface that is extremely treacherous for a road bike to safely cross without being juddered out of the saddle.

The RTA's response to complaints about this has been to flick pass them to Downer as if the RTA has no responsibility in the matter.

One of our comrades paid the price for this tardiness with a broken body yesterday, 26 February 2011, when he crashed whilst negotiating this outrageous obstacle course.

He is recovering in North Shore Hospital with broken ribs and collarbone.

The RTA's policy of not designating a proper bicycle lane on this most popular of bike routes has been a long standing scandal. This recent callous disregard for cyclist safety is yet another sorry chapter in this disgraceful saga.

Please pass this video link on to all your cycling friends and add your comments - every one helps.

Category:

Sports

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• WP1

[RicochetNZ1]

How come the cyclists were swerving in and out of the lane BEFORE reaching the point in the video where it states "Cyclist Death Zone"? This is normal behaviour from cyclists and would give an indication to RTA or Works etc that cyclists don't necessarily need to use the actual lane as they obviously don't under normal, 'safe' conditions. I bike on road too, but am also careful driver & hv 2 say a lot of cyclists don't seem to knw road rules that apply 2 them - encroaching into live lanes etc.

[TimeForParadigmShift]

Is this fixed? Did you send it to the Local Council?

[skoockum]

At speeds as low as 25-30 mph (40-50kph) many hazards that can crash a road bike may only visible for 1 or 2 seconds before you're on them.. barely enough time to avoid them, let alone check for cars before you are forced to swerve into the driving lane.

It looks like a lovely ride, but I think I'd go out with a can of road paint and mark every spot where it was best to take the lane, and forget about hoping I see all that shite just in time to ride in front of a cement truck...

[spoddie]

I was a serious cyclist when I lived in Adelaide. When I moved to Sydney I sold my bike after only one ride.

[uzisasnuff]

Here here

[boltonaw]

Shame on you RTA - a clear disregard for life! RTA - start owning your duty of care to all road users and use competent contractors. This shoulder is an embarrassment to RTA & contractors alike! I've cycled the parkway since 1986, the attention to cyclist safety during these pipeline works is appalling! One of the safest riding options to the northern beaches, the parkway is now a risk to life. RTA - get your bureaucratic act together, stop passing the buck and value cyclists' lives.