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 Riders urged to take it easy on the hard road through park 

Riders urged to take it easy on the hard road through park

BY LAURA SPERANZA
22/05/2008 9:43:00 AM
MOTORCYCLISTS are calling for major safety improvements to the roadways in the Royal National Park after a horrific motorcycle crash involving a young woman on May 13.

The call comes as statistics from the Roads and Traffic Authority reveal 40 per cent of crashes in the Royal National Park last year involved motorcycles.

A Bonnyrigg woman, 21, is fighting for her life in intensive care after crashing her Honda motorcycle on a straight section of Sir Bertram Stevens Drive.

It is believed the woman lost control of her motorcycle while riding over a pot hole, causing her bike to flip over several times.

She suffered serious head injuries in the crash and underwent surgery on Wednesday at St George Hospital, where she remains in a critical condition.

Police are investigating cause of the crash.

St George Motorcycle Club junior vice president Robert Whiteley, of Kirrawee, said the bumpy road surface through the Royal National Park made it a dangerous drive for motorcyclists.

He said the road was also littered with debris, including rocks, branches and leaves.

"Those sorts of things can easily throw a motorcyclist from their bike,'' Mr Whiteley said.

"We really need the road to be upgraded as it deteriorates and road sweepers to go through there regularly to clear the debris.''

Comments posted on the Leader website said most motorcyclists used the roads through the Royal National Park as a "race track.''

Some readers suggested speed humps to be installed.

"Just about every motor bike that comes through does it at maximum speed,'' one reader said.

But Mr Whiteley said most motorcyclists were careful.

"You obviously see the odd one or two that go too fast, but it's not the majority by any means,'' he said.

Crash statistics from the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) show there were 45 crashes in the Royal National Park along Farnell Avenue, Audley Road, Sir Bertram Stevens Drive and McKell Avenue in 2007.

Of the 45 crashes along this route, 18 involved motorcycles.

A spokeswoman for the RTA said speed limits on sections of Sir Bertram Stevens Drive had been reduced in June 2007 to improve road safety.

These changes were implemented to target the high incidence of motorbike crashes within the Royal National Park, the spokeswoman said.

"The RTA has also upgraded and installed new curve warnings and speed limit repeater signs to ensure the speed limit is clearly displayed and motorists are aware of the safe travel speed around through curves,'' the spokeswoman said.

Is the road through Royal dangerous or do motorbike riders take too many risks?

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Comments


I must be living in a parallel universe if the majority of motorcyclists are not speeding through Royal National Park, particularly on weekends. I threw a vest on and assisted with traffic control at Bundeena Drive after the latest tragic accident as I waited for police to arrive. As I exited the park via Waterfall, guess what- FIVE motorcylists overtook me across double white lines as they sped around blind corners on McKell Avenue - this is their response to a serious accident THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT. Don't blame the road!! If motorcyclists are seriously concerned for their own safety - slow down or ride on the highway.
Posted by Steve from Jannali on 22/05/2008 9:49:33 AM
I believe the reason why the majority of crashes are motorbike riders is because a pot hole will not affect a car as severely or in the same way as it affects a motorbike, speeding will not be the cause of an accident 99% of the time. You will find that with a road upgrade less motorbike accidents will occur as the road will be much safer for them.
Posted by squirrelgadget on 22/05/2008 12:10:40 PM
I've travelled through the RNP on numerous occasions on my bike, and indeed through my observations 'most' riders do travel at safe speeds and NOT use it as a race track. The joy of rolling through corners in such a picturesque scene in itself is where we derive the enjoyment. Unfortunately regardless of the sport, hobby, or location, there will always be a few that spoil it for the rest by creating a negative image. As listed in the article, debris over the road would make it quite difficult to travel at speed, particularly in the 'darker' or windier sections. Couple that with other obstacles like car-drivers who stop on blind corners for a photograph, or bicycle riders travelling 2 or 3 abreast at well BELOW posted speed limits is significantly more of a hazard to be avoided. Don't marginalise riders because of poor perception created by the minority. The RTA (or relevant authority) should be keeping the road in a 'roadworthy' condition rather than a leaf-littered goat track.
Posted by a-Motorcycle-rider on 22/05/2008 1:47:44 PM
We often drive through the Royal National Park, always at the speed limit. Most motorbike riders who travel in the same direction overtake us, often risking their own lives, as well as the lives of people travelling in the opposite direction. I am disappointed that so few of these are ever caught for speeding. We need more speed traps in the Royal National Park, not upgraded roads! It's a National Park, not a race track!
Posted by annie on 22/05/2008 3:07:37 PM
It's not only the Royal national Park roads but most roads in NSW. They are in appalling condition
Posted by Steve Jones on 22/05/2008 3:20:47 PM
The road needs regular pothole repair and very basic road maintenance (ie. pothole filling) and either signs indicating leaf debris risk or a once a week sweep. Definitely not lower speed limits, the problem is with the road condition, lowering speed limits will not help when the loss of traction is either leaves or a hard to see pothole. The character of the road is about the nature of the park, but a trip through the park should not be made insufferably slow and tedious as if in suburbia with pedestrians around.
Posted by E on 22/05/2008 7:02:37 PM
From the statistics mentioned in the article (of 45 accidents, 18 involved motorcycles) I would be asking the question "do car drivers take too many risks" That aside, I am a 50 something motorcycle rider and enjoy riding through the park. The main issue with the park is the many sections of poor road from the Farnell Ave entrance to the end of Sir Bertram Stevens Dr. Unfortunately, this is the section where the accident took place. Until improvements are made motorcyclists should avoid this section by taking the Waterfall entrance.
Posted by Robot on 22/05/2008 7:21:52 PM
Mr Whitely obviously has not driven a car though the RNP on a Sunday morning. Being a rider myself i was absolutely discusted when i drove to Bundeena from Sutherland several months ago. A group of up to 10 riders overtook me and the cars in front of me around blind corner and double yellow lines. One rider could not possibly see around and was going way too fast to make back onto the right side of the road all he could do was hug the middle of the wrong side of the road. This in turn luckily for him caused a correction on the behalf of the oncomming motorist to avoid a possible fatal accident. It was also obvious that most of these riders did not have the ability or confidence to be trying these dangerous menouvers and it was painful to watch this group of riders trying to commit suicide as they overtook each vehicle. The road has its faults and drivers and riders alike should be travelling along the road adjusting to the conditions. It is a road in a National Park and as such the road is overshadowed by treesand lined by various other vegetation. Branches and other debris can easily fall onto the road not to mention the greasy bits which do not get much sun at all due to the dense vegetation. It is not a race course which is the way most riders treat the road through the RNP not the minority.
Posted by Wazza on 22/05/2008 8:46:51 PM
Hi, every now and then when time allows, I enjoy that ride through the park. Its just a great run that all riders should do. What spoils it is when other riders blatently ignore the road rules and their own safety when they overtake around corners and over double yellow lines at speeds that leave me speachless. Editor, could you please publish more details of the bike related accidents and what was the statistics of their cause. It would be very interesting reading. Regards,. Jack from Gymea.
Posted by JACK on 22/05/2008 10:07:45 PM
Reg. "Risky roads" Mr. Robert Whiteley claims that it is only the odd one or two that go too fast through the National Park on their motorcycles. He most be joking! Get on your pushbike and ride trough the Nat. Park on a Saturday or Sunday morning. It is a miracle that there aren’t more accidents when 75 % of the motorcycle riders are flying past you at maximum speed. It is like a being on a racetrack. Get speed humps installed to stop this madness.
Posted by Rune on 22/05/2008 10:36:28 PM
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Easy:A motorcyclist sticks to the speed limit along Sir Bertram Stevens Drive. Picture: Chris Lane
Easy:A motorcyclist sticks to the speed limit along Sir Bertram Stevens Drive. Picture: Chris Lane

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