Safe Speed Forums

Birmingham City Council are altering the curbs in my area and I can’t see why?

Over a period of months, at what must have been huge expense, they have been implanting a bigger curb next to the existing one. They have had some big machinery digging down deep to make the foundations for it solid but I can’t figure out why or what purpose it serves?

All I can think of is it would make it harder for a vehicle to mount, but that’s never been a problem. They have done hundreds of yards of it around my roads and must have cost a fortune at a time when we are all expected to make serious cutbacks.

Here are the ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures..

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

No idea what that's about Tone, old ones look fine to me ..... do any local councillors .. or relatve thereof ... own an establishment that does tyres and replacement wheels? Or maybe its to teach cyclists & moped riders "a lesson" if they allow themselves to be pushed too far towards the kerb by impatient overtakers?

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You only need two tools - WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape. :0)

Beats me Zipps, maybe it’s job creation. They were working on it for a good couple of months before moving on to the next area. I was going to stop and ask one of them but they worked during the day of course, when I'm at work, so I didn’t really get a chance.

I know a neighbour opposite the place where it was done so I’ll ask if they know. I’m really intrigued and just a little bit peed-off that they put something like that as an expensive priority over pot holes and other necessary road work around here.

Add: It looks like the new curb just sits next to the original on top but I can tell you they dug a deep trench using a JCB to concrete them securely in place. There was nothing wrong with it as it was, that I can see.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

They are just finished doing all the kerbs and re-surfacing the pavements and road we are on. They re-used all the old real stone kerbing (where it was still there) , non of your concrete rubbish, but did dig it all out and re-seated it.

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You only need two tools - WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape. :0)

That would appear to the be the obvious reason for doing it - why not try asking them?

You could also ask on SABRE.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Like I say, I didn’t get a chance to ask one of the workers because of the timing. I’m just surprised in these times of austerity that they would spend so much on a thing like that where I can’t see any obvious benefit. I think I’m paying too much Council Tax.


I haven’t been on there for so long I’d forgotten I’m a member and what they're about. Thanks Peter.

Done

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

Some of the grass verges in my locality have had wooden posts erected very near the curb; I guess these are for that same reason.

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Views expressed are personal opinions and are not necessarily shared by the Safe Speed campaign

are you on a flood plain tone

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now retired

Looks like the sort of work they might consider doing if they are going to raise the level of the roadway. Though, as you say, I am sure that there are higher prorities when budgets are restricted. I wonder how many councilors are unison members or have interests in civil engineering companies ??

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"The road to a police state is paved with public safety legislation"

This is a complete guess, but a civil engineer once told me that kerbs can have a vital role to play on some roads, depending on the subsoil. Because tar is (essentially) a liquid, very heavy trucks, especially in hot weather, can displace it downwards and outwards. The kerb stones help to contain it - preventing it from moving sideways and sinking. No idea whether its true or not but it had a ring of tuth to it. That might explain the very solid foundations?

If I came off a 2 wheeler round about there, I'd much prefer the old kerbing had been left well alone.



If I came off a 2 wheeler round about there, I'd much prefer if there was no poles anywhere near the roadside.

Little thought ever seems to go into the safety of folks on 2 wheelers when it comes to kerbs, road furniture, and barriers, even some very recent crash barriers are real scary ......

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=glencoe&hl=en&ll=56.66253,-4.966003&spn=0.002901,0.007242&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=12.791842,29.663086&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=56.662572,-4.965786&panoid=yfmiEDekkj8S9nR2aL1RMQ&cbp=12,167.92,,2,21.77

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You only need two tools - WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape. :0)

Do you have any problem with "travellers" round your way?

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

Not that I’m aware of CO. I’m about 500 ft above sea level with nothing to run down hill at me.

Not at all Malcolm. It’s not the sort of place, or space, where anyone would want or need to get a vehicle on it.

You may have just hit on it Mole! It’s never been a problem that I know of but to the left of my previous pictures there is a busy main road elevated, at a guess, two or three feet higher. Maybe a bit more, it's deceptive. Here’s another picture of it from the opposite direction. The heavy traffic is to the right this time on a NSL.




There are trees along the entire length which I would have though would act like a barrier and, like I say, there’s never been a problem with subsidence. (My 'before' picture). But even if that is the reason, nothing’s happening fast for certain and with money being tight it still seems like a terribly low priority to me for such an outlay.

If you are right Mole, for some reason they have continued all the way up beyond that picture where the roads are on the same level, but your explanation seems the most logical so far. This is almost a game of lateral thinking now. If I have to I'll phone the Council and find out; it's driving me nuts. I thought someone might come on and say "oh they did it by me too and it's because of xyz" Bit of a head scratcher..

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

That looks like the central reservation of a DC?

If so then I guess it's to prevent crossover accidents. Same reason every bit of armco has been ripped out and replaced by concrete blocks.

Possibly an EU directive?

As Peter says ask them - they must have an email address, if you don't get any time during the day to call them.
Is that a trunk road ? As the Highways Agency will then be your contact and they might have to put you in touch with a sub contractor though but they ought to know anyway ! Or you can ask Tarmac or Morrisons who construct roads etc ?

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

Yes, you're right.

I see what you mean Homer although it wouldn't prevent the fast traffic from coming down the side from the main road and nothing from the bottom could, or ever has, run onto the central reservation from the bottom as it was before.

It is Claire, the A441 into Reddich. Word is they are also going to put a speed camera along there soon too. Someone's going to be very disappointed when that happens. I hear a biker going flat out along there every morning at 7:15 from the island. Red line in the first three gears; whatever that equates to on what sounds like an R6

I'll call or email the Highways Agency, as you suggest I hadn't got around to it yet cuz of work and stuff..

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

Better late than never; managed to get through to someone today 'in the know'.

There are two schemes going on, happening around Birmingham..

1) It is to prevent drivers from mounting the verges which apparently costs the Council some amount to repair and maintain. How they justify it or believe it offsets the cost and labour is beyond me but that's the official word Again, I could understand if it was a common problem, like the local school where they have also done it because mums' park absolutely anywhere including the grass embankments But not where I have shown in my pictures; it's never been a problem there so somebody obviously hadn’t done their research.

2) It is in fact a type of plastic they are trialling to see what the properties are and whether they are as good as concrete while being cheaper to produce. At least that makes some sense to me. I didn't realise they were plastic because it looks like concrete and feels/sounds like it when I gave it a good kick. If I'd got a ball hammer it may have revealed it's true identity.

So then, if the trial goes well I guess they will be popping up all over the land one day.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

There is a concrete that I know of that contains about 1/3rd polystryene balls - making them lighter and cheaper... that might be it - so it is not all plastic but partly so. I'd ask them more about this - send me the number that could be quite interesting if it isn't this product.

You can of course ask (or FOI) the accidents of Council property and the costs to repair and the costs of this new scheme ... might be rather interesting ...
Mostly around schools there are very few accidents indeed but stats don't include Council property...

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

That’s interesting Claire, not heard of that before. I’d have thought they would just make it into a honeycomb of sorts to save on weight or like those bricks you see with holes passing through.

I don’t know if I want to call him back again in case he thinks I’m a nut. I gave him the third degree as it was and he gave me the sense he was thinking “what’s your interest anyway”. I didn’t tell him my interest is why are our tax pounds being spent on something in places where there isn’t a problem, but the composition of them is an interesting spin off from being nosey.

I’ve joined Birmingham City Council’s website and can make a request if I can find the right person or division to ask about the curb’s make-up. It sounds like they are still experimenting with different materials etc. I find civil engineering really interesting. I want to ride over the Milay Bridge one day, if my fear of heights can stand it

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

Ummmm .... don't go on a windy day, and take a parachute just in case

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You only need two tools - WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape. :0)