Construction plates finally removed at Haight & Scott on May 4th
But the May 4th work left sunken SFWD covers, a different hazard
Now a different plate is lodged at the intersection, better wedged with asphalt this time
And the plate surface is non-skid as all plates in the city are required to be
Cyclists relieved to no longer have to dodge or bump over the risky, badly positioned construction plates at Haight and Scott streets now find another plate in the exact same position. What's going on here?
As previously reported, cyclists complained to the city and to the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition about the original plates that seemed abandoned at the northeast corner, right along the Wiggle bike route. SFBC urged the city to fix the defect, and the city responded. On May 4th workers for the SF Water Department jackhammered the area, applied new asphalt, and smoothed everything over. Except they left submerged, below-grade SFWD utility covers, a different hazard for cyclists.
The end of last week SFBC pointed out the latest problem to the Department of Public Works. Perhaps with that intervention -- or maybe by coincidence -- the below-grade manhole covers were gone by Monday. Instead, one very large plate covers much of the fix-on-fix area. At least this plate has a skid-resistant covering and is better ramped along the sides with asphalt. Nearby construction signs indicate SFWD will be working at the site from May 19th to 28th. Maybe then this part of the Wiggle will have received its last makeover.
we have to get the DPW crew on bikes. i wonder if they work for the city of if they're contractors?
ReplyDeleteand i wonder if there is a standard DPW-type "Here's how to fix the streets and not jack up cyclists" HOWTO guide out there? Maybe in Portland?
Peter: Lots of DPW staff do ride bikes from the director to the work crews. And some of the DPW repair units are adding "bike rideability" as a factor in determining smooth streets following repaving or repairs. But there's room for improvement certainly, and other city agencies and private contractors are not as bike-aware.
ReplyDeleteThe city already has a Blue Book of codes and regulations that govern safe street repair practices to be followed by all agencies or private concerns that tear up the streets. What's needed is more training, monitoring, inspection, and enforcement. In the interim, we need to keep our "eyes on the street."