Concrete barriers

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PAULHOMAN

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I would love to know which twat in whatever Dept. agreed to the concrete barriers that festoon all our lovely new motoways was it a ploy to use up excess concrete? I personally think they are extremly dangerous also I'm told they are having a big impact on wild life deer badgers foxs etc as the poor critters cannot cross over the motorways and get run over no provision of underpasses etc.:rob:rob
At work I travel a lot and this winter especially in high winds I think they are a disgrace too narrow and those bleeding concrete barriers:rob:rob
 
I'd prefer to take my chances with the concrete barrier than the metal rope they used before - that bloody stuff would chop you in two.
 
I take your point about the wildlife but, to the best of my knowledge, they're about the safest for bikers -far safer that ending up on the other carriageway and way better than that fecking 'cheese cutter' wire they're so fond of :mad:
I'm no expert but I know someone who is - calling Og
- any chance you'd unchain the lovely Mrs Og from the cooker for a moment please :augie
 
picture the scene your riding along the motorway some twat blindsides you you sliding along on your ass towards the concrete barrier.at least you have a chance of sliding along it:thumb2

if its the normal steel variety you will be tangled up in the posts and mangled beyond belief the concrete variety have more pros than cons IMHO:)
 
all the autostradas in Italy are getting partition by concrete, i think as said in the case of accidents to prevent a vehicle crossing to other side, probably more for logistics, ie to ensure the crash stays on one side when it does happen and not close 2 directions:nenau
 
the most dangerous bit Kinnegad to Atholne now I now it's a big improvement on the old road but that's not the point it should be much much better. I had a conversation with a local council road engineer over the Christmas period in Roscommon town and he totally agreed with me. In bad weather you just cannot overtake on that motorway especially in heavy rain with wind and I was driving a Honda Accord estate I wouldn't fancy being on my 1150gs in those conditions:rob
Also I'm sick of seeing cars with one headlight:blast
oh bleeding heck had to get that off my chest time for:beer::beer::beer:
 
On new years eve I almost crashed into the back of a lorry that had no rear lights!!!!!!!I just picked up a refection of light from a refector that was near Athlone.:rob
 
They are all way too narrow the concrete is literally at your side you could touch it:blast
 
Had not thought about the wildlife but I'd take my chances with the concrete well before the wire variety.
I use the Moate Kilbeggan bit occasionally and travelling in that direction the concrete shields the overtaking lane from the sun (& wind to a lesser degree) leaving it very slow to dry. Over the winter we are still having that meant that lane was a slippy no go area on a lot of occasions.

The tufts of weeds growing at its base are nice though. :augie
 
lets get Paddy Power to set up bet spreads for when first tree grows beside concrete barrier on M50 and a bird nests in it:aidan
 
concrete good - cheese wire bad

HID kits light up a lot 'invisible' road users. If in doubt, take your time. I always get there at around the same time anyway. If I ride to my limit, I need more smoke breaks and that compensates for the extra speed.

Maybe more signage is needed:D
 
Mrs Og here

Thanks Jockster :thumb

I've been involved with this issue for sometime both here and in Brussels.

Counter intuitive as it may sound tests have been proved that concrete barriers are far safer for motorcyclists than any other form of barrier. This is partially due to the fact that there is no gaps in the concrete so you can't slide under and into oncoming traffic. No posts to slice into you and injuries sustained on concrete are crush rather than slice and as the chances of hitting a barrier head on are slight you are more likely to survive a side impact crush. I'm not by any means saying you'll walk away but you are far more likely to survive.

Wire rope barriers are tools of the devil in Sweden there has been 7 fatalities attributed to them. I know of one case in Ireland where the insurance investigator felt that it was the barrier but as the biker concerned was perceived to be under the influence :spl1f: this was put down has the cause rather than an interface with the barrier.
 
I heard some debate on this last year,someone was cribbing about the wire rope and the stats they gave were shocking to say the least.Concerete was definetly safer.
 
Wildilfe

It is a real problem for smaller wildilfe, but it is a problem not unique to Ireland.

Combined with the proximity of the barrier to the outer lane and the fact that they are continuous for mile after mile, newly opened roads result in carnage for badgers particularly - after a few months there are not nearly as many deaths - because local badger families are mostly killed off by then......Hedgehogs are also seriously impacted and, worse still, otters are also falling victim to these obstructions. Neither otter nor badger populations are strong enough in many areas to sustain such losses. It seem that the roads are bosecting the animals natural territories (as they do many farms) and there is a natural urge on the animals behalf to try to continue to use the traditional routes to/from parts of their territories, only there is a road with juggernauts in the way....
Foxes and deer can tend to navigate over the barriers, IF they get the chance - being disorientated with cars in the outer lane just inches away takes care of a fair few of them too, particularly younger ones.

The original Environmental Impact Studies for our new roads recommended culverts that Otters could use, and regular breaks in the barrier that would allow badgers etc to get through - though these are not ideal as it 'releases' the animal into the outer lane on the other side and thus could have a desavtating effect for a surprised driver. As ever, where there is a will there is a way and an engineering solution (over/underpasses) could be found, but (also "as ever") there is a financial cost that local authorities/NRA/PPP's aren't prepared to meet..........

The Dutch care about their natural environment - http://www.zwarts.jansma.nl/artefact-499-en.html - here, authorities tend not to give a toss - because it costs to care - will you pay the extra tolls? Maybe when the only badger or otter your kids ever see are roadkills, we will sit up and speak up.

Some stuff here on biking considerations
 
Went up to DUB on the coach.
Oldtimer on a High nelly, was cycling on N/M6 in the Kilbeggan direction, on the strip between the barrier and the right hand lane.
Had no phone to call the help in, no one else called either, I guess.
Regarding the tree growing, there was plenty of straw along side the barrier, with new green growth coming out of it. (October09)
 
Ogmios said:
Wire rope barriers are tools of the devil in Sweden there has been 7 fatalities attributed to them. I know of one case in Ireland where the insurance investigator felt that it was the barrier but as the biker concerned was perceived to be under the influence :spl1f: this was put down has the cause rather than an interface with the barrier.
Click to expand...

i'm in discussion with someone over here - they love wire rope barriers.

Where's your evidence pls ?
 
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