Cycling sucks when...

[dd74]

...you're on a long stretch of road - in the bike lane - with traffic passing you at at least 55, and you encounter an enormous swatch of excavated dirt dumped in your path. Your options are:

1) Ride through the dirt and risk crashing.
2) Ride out in traffic and risk being hit by a vehicle.
3) Stopping.

I've done all three, neither of which are fun.

Location is Forest Lawn Drive between Barham and Griffith Park. This is one of my main routes.

My question is what or who should I complain to about this? For the last six months, dirt has, off and on, been dumped in the bike lane w/o any regard that cyclist use it. Of course, the dirt has been dumped in plain sight of a no dumping signs. Until you encounter something like this, you really don't know how infuriating - not to mention dangerous - this is.

Any suggestions?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Have you contacted Public Works?

[nostatic]

if you're going in a straight line, you're not really risking going down, are you? How deep is it?

Get a mtn bike

[dd74]

Originally Posted by nostatic

if you're going in a straight line, you're not really risking going down, are you? How deep is it?

Get a mtn bike

Deep. I'd say ankle to shin deep. And very loose. Think of potting soil.

[Dave L]

bunny hop!

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Have you contacted Public Works?

Yeah. But you know, I somehow think this is some fly-by-night dirt truck company (we've all seen 'em; ratty trucks, ratty drivers). As these guys probably get paid by the load, dumping dirt in a designated site probably doesn't pay as well as doing it beside the road. Quicker turnaround.

[Tim Hancock]

Bunny hop it?

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Dave L

bunny hop!

For an eight of a mile, uh huh...

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

Bunny hop it?

...while on a 20 year old carbon bike I just rebuilt/overhauled?

[island911]

Originally Posted by nostatic

if you're going in a straight line, you're not really risking going down, are you? How deep is it?

Get a mtn bike

He's right. If you're straight you're not really risking going down.


and yeah, get a mtn bike. --you're just in it for the exercise, right? Touring tires on a mnt bike make for great urban commuter.

[lendaddy]

Realize that you're playing in traffic and find somewhere more suitable for your hobby?

That aught to go over well

[dd74]

Originally Posted by island911

you're just in it for the exercise, right?

Ummm...no, it's not just about exercise.

Touring tires on a mnt bike make for great urban commuter.

I don't do mountain bikes. (because it's not just about exercise).

Anyway the point is being missed here. It's the illegal dumping of dirt in the bike lane, and not a matter of whether I should change bicycles.

[slodave]

Modified snow plow on the front of the bike?

[dd74]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

Realize that you're playing in traffic and find somewhere more suitable for your hobby?

That aught to go over well

You should get into it, big boy. I hear you're quite the porker these days.

And just in case you're comprehension skills aren't up to snuff, I did say this occurs in a BIKE LANE.

[legion]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Get a mtn bike

My thoughts exactly.

And also why I ride a mountain bike--it can better cope with the unexpected.

[island911]

Originally Posted by dd74

Ummm...no, it's not just about exercise.


I don't do mountain bikes. (because it's not just about exercise).

Anyway the point is being missed here. It's the illegal dumping of dirt in the bike lane, and not a matter of whether I should change bicycles.

It's illegal to dumping of dirt on a road too, but we don't drive cars so fragile that they can't handle the occasional situation.

If not exersice, then what's the point? Do you look so good in technicolored spandex that the world needs to see?

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by dd74

You should get into it, big boy. I hear you're quite the porker these days.

And just in case you're comprehension skills aren't up to snuff, I did say this occurs in a BIKE LANE.

Nice manners babe.

I'm actually the lightest I've been in over a year but most certainly still a porker Given that, do you still want those stills you PMed me about?

[nostatic]

ok, this thread is plenty useful WITHOUT pictures...

If it is a bike lane separated by curbing those are the worst and I avoid them at all costs. They never get swept.

Ankle deep sounds just about perfect for a mtn bike. You ever consider one of those?

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by nostatic

ok, this thread is plenty useful WITHOUT pictures...

I don't know, I've got my poses down and if you oil me up real good that **** is sexy as hell.

[Gogar]

4 piston calipers?

I guess if you know the dirt is occasionally be on that stretch of road, you might have to take it easy for that mile or two right there.

and you could just call public works every day until something happens.

Or wait until urban street maintenance gets privatized.