This is not cool. Anyone have a large-enough-to-nail-the-tie-rod rock we can plunk in the middle of the trail until we get the bollard replaced?
2010-12-01 05:48:07
18
Panther Hollow Trail, Now Accepting Cars?
So I go through Panther Hollow at least eight times a week, often more
Today I noticed a Mercedes Benz SUV followed by a Dodge (whatever those mediocre sedans are called) coming off the Panther Hollow Trail
At first I thought they might have had a legit reason for being on the trail, like maybe robot CMU people (They've been playing with robo lawn mowers for it seems the last half year on the soccer field over there)
After they went through I noticed they passed over a broken wooden bollard, and the grass had a bunch of tracks in it, to the point of being complete mud
I hadn't noticed the broken bollard before, but I did see Brickmen (landscapers) there maybe a few weeks ago
Then on the South Oakland side of the trail I tried to shut the gate only to find out that it cannot be shut. It's bent in the middle of the gate so the latch is about half an inch off and can't close
Now I enjoy cars as much as the next year-round Bike-Pgh commuter, but I don't want them on the .00000000001% of pavement that dedicated to non-motorized traffic.
311 calls?
On a more safety oriented note... I can envision somebody not seeing the car or the car not seeing a bike on the bendy part of the trail causing an accident. Or somebody's dog not on a leash getting hit perhaps
2010-12-01 05:24:09
Very uncool. I'd definitely get the plates if you see it again. Although I'm probably kidding myself, thinking that the cops would actually care.
2010-12-01 06:44:12
kids play soccer on that field, wee little adoreable ones whose shinguards are the size of their entire legs. just point that out to the cops. kids chase balls that go out of bounds. kids chase dogs. cars vs. kids doesn't go well.
2010-12-01 14:17:36
I was almost creamed by a city truck on the north side trail under the bridges downtown where there are blind corners. They often are up there collecting trash, so be careful...
2010-12-01 14:20:10
Maybe it was a just ducky employee that was lost?
2010-12-01 15:37:58
Maybe just use some rope/cable to tie the gate closed? God forbid anyone should have to step out of their car.
2010-12-01 17:25:56
if they drove to that point, stepping out, swearing at the damn hippies (or whoever) who tied up their access road, untieing (sp?) the rope, and getting back in is faster than navigating back up and on to the legal streets.
chain and padlock would last until a work crew got to it (probably an hour or two).
311.
2010-12-01 17:38:47
Although some gorilla-like efforts are understandable, remember that emergency and (hopefully) snow removal vehicles need to have access to the trails. A chain and lock could hold up responders when minutes are important.
Better to just throw stones at offending vehicals. I'd love to hear that 911 call - 'I'm illegally driving on the trail and... oh nevermind.'
2010-12-01 17:47:25
Yeah there is a universal key that unlocks all city
padlocks. This could prevent trash pickup / plowing
(ha) and other efforts. Talking about lazy drivers,
dont give city employees a reason not to do any
maintenance that they actually do.
2010-12-01 18:35:00
why use the universal key when you can just ram the gates open?
2010-12-01 20:55:41
There was what appeared to be broken ziptie on the gate.
Additionally, there looked to be a semi-new galvanized pole a little further down (towards South Oakland) from the gate. Not sure what it is for or how long it's been there
2010-12-01 23:34:20
God I hate it when that gate is closed
Please nobody close it
2010-12-02 02:56:44
frill. i prefer fewer obstacles when i'm tearing ass thru there at night
2010-12-02 03:44:23
Spak, I agree. I'm always afraid I'm going to get clipped by my pannier. What would be ideal would be a proper bollard in the middle.
2010-12-02 13:03:49
I like the South Oakland gate open also.
Yesterday I encountered a black SUV going east on the trail maybe 600 meters west of the casino at a pretty good clip. I closed a gate a bit further ahead, and they returned within a minute or two. I do not think they got out to move the gate because it was so quick.
2010-12-02 19:57:12
Also, I know that they took that wooden bollard out so that re-turfing trucks could fix up the soccer field.
What about just putting some big caltrops in the grass where the cars are cutting through?
2010-12-02 23:36:32
I would categorize this as a 911 call
2010-12-03 15:07:32