A roundabout warning
There are delightful cycling routes around the Eastern reaches of Sydney. The hilly surrounds of the Harbour and the rugged coastline of the Pacific Ocean offer challenging rises and falls between the gentle plateaux and sandy flats. Lung-burning climbs may be well-rewarded with stunning vistas or surprising glimpses of the Bridge.
And the great joy of attaining the high ground is teaming with gravity on the winding ways down. You don’t have to be Lance Armstrong to start fretting about violation of speed restrictions as you slide down from the crest of Bellevue Hill towards Bondi. The cars faffing about in front become more concern than those lagging behind as the bold cyclist claims a lane and glides towards the 50 or 60 kph limits.
But it is not only other road users one must be wary of at breakneck speeds. Strangely cambered corners can cause consternation or catastrophe.
The folly of our infatuation with oversized motor-vehicles has left us with lazily designed public thoroughfares. You may know some particularly engineer-fisted examples of elaborately constructed danger zones. [Please feel free to write in and share.]
Don’t mention the separated bi-directional cycleway being built to blight Bourke Street that will remain Lord Mayor Moore’s monument to moronism.
But back to your reporter – having chosen the road less travelled down from Bellevue Hill, the lolloping curves of Birriga Road preferred to the Old South Head Road downhill slalom through traffic – cruising to a speed near his age in kilometres approaching the roundabout placed where Bundarra Road joins Birriga’s descent to Royal Sydney.
The problem is that the placement of this particular roundabout creates a hard right-angled turn difficult to negotiate going faster than 20 klicks.
Fortunately your man on the street has anticipated worse and has a Shiny New Bike with a disc brake on the front wheel.
I did not hit the curb at speed and fly sprawling into the trees or a garden wall. Someone less aware and less well-equipped will.
by Peter Whitehead
