The regular Martin Goodman Trail users must be aware of this one already. Not far from the famous bollards at the Boulevard Club, you'll find, hopefully while avoiding it, the stub of an damaged bollard.
The Toronto Star's "The Fixer" is taking this one on.
We checked on it yesterday and noticed it appears to be what's left of a bollard that was sheared off.
...
Then a woman came out of Palais Royale and explained the bollard was knocked down – along with a nearby fire hydrant – by a car on the Lake Shore that lost control.She said they'd placed a fluorescent pylon over the bollard stub several times, but it always ends up somewhere else.
Comments
anthony
Here is a pic I took a short
Sat, 10/13/2007 - 13:21Here is a pic I took a short while a go of the problem area:
And here is a close-up of the bollard stub in question:
Yes, this is bad. Bollards are bad for cyclists.
But the one mentioned is not the only problem one, it's just the sharpest. Here are pictures of three others on the trail (sorry, but I don't have imaging editing software in this computer to turn the images):
in fact there is only One stub along this stretch of the Martin Goodman trail that does no pose a serious theat, it's this one:
Ben
Also
Mon, 10/15/2007 - 12:59I think that other bollard that is bent over to the 23.5 degree angle is also pretty scary. I almost caught it on Sunday.
joe
bollards
Mon, 10/15/2007 - 18:04Now that I've seen pics of the Boulevard Club bollards I have to ask why everyone is whining about them?
To read posts about these in the past, you'd think you couldn't get a bike through them. These are pretty well spaced out (the broken ones are a problem, sure) and complaining about them is probably a waste of energy that could be better put elsewhere.
Aidan
Bollards!
Mon, 10/15/2007 - 20:46You've "seen pics of the Boulevard Club bollards". Have you riden through them?
Tell me what you think when you've had to slow down to a speed barely fast enough to stay upright, while weaving through metal posts, keeping a look out for other riders, clueless pedestrians and entitled luxury car drivers.
darren
photos
Tue, 10/16/2007 - 07:52Joe,
Based on the Star article, I'd say the place where the damaged stub exists and where the photos are taken is a different spot on the trail from where the dangerous bollards were installed. I don't think it's fair to call it whining when someone complains about infrastructure the city installs supposedly on their behalf.
-dj
Paul Dicks (not verified)
Martin Goodman Trail
Sat, 10/13/2007 - 15:33Well, lets see how fast Peter Leiss gets this fixed. He has been the president of Randonneurs Canada, and I can't believe that he was supporting the staggered bollards on the MGT. When I was riding the Mean Streets 200 km brevet with the RO's, I nearly hit one of them while avoiding another, and I can certainly see how cyclists would hit each other headon with their attempts to avoid the bollard placed squarely in their paths. Put a bloody stop light for the cars at that location.
Paul Dicks
Aidan
Inevitable
Sun, 10/14/2007 - 20:26It was inevitable that the bollards would get sheared, by an accident or by a good citizen... er, I mean, vandal. If you are going to put up bollards, right or wrong, they have to be plastic and with a break-away bottom, so no one gets broken ribs, or worse.
Svend (not verified)
Bollards
Mon, 10/15/2007 - 11:41[quote]The trail is maintained by Toronto's parks department, but the guy in charge in that area, Kevin Bowser, was on vacation and won't be back until Monday.[/quote]
I hope he had a nice vacation, it's too bad that maintenance stops when the boss is gone.
There are some removable bollards along the Martin Goodman Trail so that crews can do work. When they are removed, a low stub stays in place that could be dangerous as well - these should be better thought out to consider cyclists.
Steeker
there is another one sheared
Mon, 10/15/2007 - 23:23there is another one sheared off and sticking up with a jagged edge at ashbridges bay on the martin trail,, ,,,, =8^) (Steeker)
anthony
More pics of problem area
Tue, 10/16/2007 - 09:47On my way to the Cycling Committee meeting last night I took pics of the problem area again.
Not they have put up fencing to protextthe bollards from further harm, the first picture is looking east (going downtown) and the second picture is a view from the side
The last picture is a bit diappointing to me because the camera more clearly shows the fencing than it actually was last night. It was hard for mw to see until I was almost on top of it.
I cannot say that I like the way that this fencing almost entirely blocks the path. And why do broken bollards need so much protection?
With an angle grinder, and a few minutes, I could have these things removed already.
What is the holdup? (Sarcasm) Another 1000 pages of paperwork and councillor approval only after public consultation required? What!? (/Sarcasm)
Anonymous (not verified)
why put a bike path there in the first place?
Tue, 10/16/2007 - 12:43If the city wasn't going to stand up to the toffs at the Boulevard club, and still not stand up as the priority of bollard over cyclist shows in the photos, why did they put a bike path there in the first place?
anthony
Palais Royale
Tue, 10/16/2007 - 16:38These bollards are NOT at the Boulevard Club, but are near Palais Royale <sp?>
Aidan
My mistake... &^%& the Palais Royale!
Tue, 10/16/2007 - 19:08My mistake... &^%& the Palais Royale!
Darren_S
Informing the city
Wed, 10/17/2007 - 08:15It might be a good idea to inform the city in writing of the bollards. Send it to the city clerks office. This way if a cyclist is injured they cannot turn around and say that they did not know. You have to be pretty specific about location. If they get enough grief they may be inclined to fix them a little faster.