Thanks. This clarifies a lot of things. Still, I think the signaling could be better, especially given the high risk posed to cyclists (that have only tow, usually pretty thin, tires...) by a step parallel to the direction of travel.

Also, thanks Allyson for the list of links. I filled up the form on safetylane.

Giacomo

On 17-Sep-15 11:00, (via gccmail list) wrote:
This email was sent from aol.com which does not allow forwarding of emails via email lists. Therefore the sender's email address (xxxxxx@aol.com) has been replaced with a dummy one.

Kudos to Allyson.  Excellent list of agencies to contact about unsafe road conditions.

FYI to all:   Whenever the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) repaves a road, They put down two layers of asphalt.  The first layer is the "base" layer.  For some engineering reason, the first layer has to "cure" for a month or two.  Then they put down the "friction" layer, a different type of asphalt designed to help rubber tires stop more quickly for safety.   Private contractors do the work, but each project has a FDOT project manager who can answer questions.

It is a good idea to be careful in construction zones because the pavement may be uneven between lanes and at the curbs.

Chandler Otis


-----Original Message-----
From: Allyson Gill <xxxxxx@gmail.com>
To: gccmail <xxxxxx@gccfla.org>
Sent: Sat, Sep 12, 2015 7:44 am
Subject: Re: GCCMail: beware of sidewalks

Here is what I suggest:

1)   Submit a road hazard complaint to:   www.safetylane.org    This is an FDOT initiative by which citizens may submit dangerous road conditions (broken pavement, confusing or faded road markings, missing signs, poorly-timed or nonfunctional traffic lights, potholes, caved-in sewer drains, pretty much anything).  I have used it many times.  It can take awhile to get a response, but the staff there will direct the problem to the government entity responsible for fixing the problem.  Why is this important?  Because our roads, although designated a State or County Road, are not always maintained by who you think they are.   Submit, and let FDOT figure it out.  My feeling is that the more people complain a particular hazard, the faster it will get taken care of.

2) If you can figure out whether the City, County, or State is responsible for the problem, email them directly.   City of Gainesville Public Works can be reached at xxxxxx@cityofgainesville.org       County Public Works:report hazards to Etta Taylor at xxxxxx@alachuacounty.us  Just submit, anyway.  If they are not the ones responsible, they will email you back, lickety-split to tell you who is, in my experience.

3) Email your City ( xxxxxx@cityofgainesville.org)  and/or County Commission ( xxxxxx@alachuacounty.us)   Your email will be forwarded to the appropriate party.  Keep in mind whatever info (address, tel. number, etc.) you put in your email becomes public record

4) Call TV-20, since they seem to be on a "riding a bike will get you killed" crusade lately.  Maybe they can send a non-cyclist reporter out to cover the story.

-Ally Gill

On Fri, Sep 11, 2015 at 11:54 PM, Giacomo Ciani <jackseriuos79@gmail.com> wrote:
I'm glad to hear that people are aware of the problem and hopefully working at resolving it.

I found very surprising that the city would schedule road work in such a way as to create an obvious road hazard for an extended period of time (on 34th, the asphalt has been this way for weeks now...).

I'm not that familiar with US judicial system, but given how common it is to sue people for anything, it seem to me that if someone gets injured, there is ground for a  lawsuit against the city for a road hazard that has been created as a result of incomplete, or ill-programmed, road works, and is not signaled in any way (it is like digging a hole in the middle of the road to fix the sewage, and not marking it...).

Rather that contacting Steven Scalan individually, could/should we all sign some sort of petition?

Giacomo

On 09-Sep-15 19:02, Spugnardi, Michael wrote:
Nicole,

I've was assured some time ago by the city that plans have been in place from the onset of the road construction to level the street with that of the curb. What has been completed this time and has created this "lip", I'm told, is a foundation layer.  Steve Scanlan is the FDOT Maintenance Program Engineer for our region.  I'd send him an email: xxxxxx@dot.state.fl.us o r call him here: (352) 381-4316. I too have had many come into Gator Cycle with injuries incurred as a result of the project. I'll add that commuting during a rain has become a nuisance as water runoff can no longer find its way to the sewer but, rather, pools and runs through the bike lane, carrying road debris along with it.

Michael Spugnardi
Assistant Manager, Gator Cycle
(352) 373-3962

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