The Civic Pole Farm

johnboy said :

In the middle of a bus interchange?

Why not? Watch what you’re doing and you’ll be fine, it’s not as though the buses are going more than 30 or so anyway.

I’d have thought you of all people would have plenty of experience riding in the bus interchange, given where your day job is located.

johnboy said :

In the middle of a bus interchange?

It would thin the herd.

That can only be a good thing

In the middle of a bus interchange?

johnboy said :

Because riding on the footpath in the ACT is legal?

There are plenty of things that are legal that aren’t a good idea. If there are lots of poles, that’s probably a good place to ride on the road to get around.

aussieboy said :

Why don’t you just ride on the road, like you’re meant to?

Because riding on the footpath in the ACT is legal?

The towering levels of idiotic ignorance in some of these comments is making me despair for humanity.

Why don’t you just ride on the road, like you’re meant to?

Though there needs to be some proper bike corridors worked out in Civic, e.g. along Alinga St where road gets so narrow (for no apparent reason) that cyclists need to go right out into the middle of the road and risk being hit by a bus or car

johnboy said :

Yes, bicycles are so “forbidden” the government put racks on the front of the bus to carry them in.

I thought they were scoops, to help clean up the roads – no wonder they fail me all the time on that part of the bus driver test.

Yes, bicycles are so “forbidden” the government put racks on the front of the bus to carry them in.

Rollersk8r said :

…all those pics are in the bus interchange, where bikes are forbidden.

Says it all…. but then again cyclists have their own laws now don’t they.

Speed signs have a basis in legislation. These signs do not.

johnboy said :

Rollersk8r said :

I’m with you in theory but technically all those pics are in the bus interchange, where bikes are forbidden. There is a sign saying no bikes or skateboards, which is actually not on a pole but on the building on the Northbourne side.

The sign refers to the area under collonade. But given that it cites no authority or statute it’s really just a request.

Is that some sort of bizarro cyclist logic, JB? Unless a sign has a citation referring to an actual law, it is deemed to be a request only? I might use that if I get caught speeding. “Sorry, I thought it was a request.”

Thoroughly Smashed said :

peterepete said :

The pole in the foreground of the second pic seems to disappear behind the emergency vehicles excepted sign which is clearly behind it. Maybe its all an illusion

Or maybe it really is the one that the signs are attached to.

Thanks ts. Its so much easier to accept that i’m a dumbass than it is to accept that the laws of physics have been messed with at this intersection. You are right – i had it in my head that the no entry sign sat on the post below it…..if you squint it looks
Ike the speed limit is 20

Speaking of large numbers of things, I have to ask… why does the government pave public areas with small pavers?

Looking in those pics above and walking around,they seem neither stylish nor robust. All sorts of edges sticking up and the drab, often mismatched colours looks tragic. They’ve just repaved a heap of areas using the same small pavers around Garema Place and the Canberra Club, taking heaps of time laying them all.

Given that all the pavers are the same colour anyway, so they’re not doing to add patterns, why don’t they just use large pavers like most contemporary landscaping has?

Those aren’t poles. They’re the latest piece of public art. Have you no appreciation?

Far from being a trivial issue, the intrusion on pedestrian spaces by poles is a serious problem for wheel chair users. I’m often forced onto the road by some pole on a pedestrian path plonked right in the middle. Very frustrating.

Urinal for dogs?

sarahsarah said :

I used to live in an apartment on Northbourne and it never took long for our balcony to be covered in a layer of dirty soot from the traffic passing by. Perhaps they have mutated from continuous exposure and have started sprouting offshoots. The one sans sign just hasn’t fully developed yet.

I think that are actually the adult stage of the pupae also known as the paper clip. And you wondered where they’ve been disappearing to…

That’s what happens when we have too many rules, you have to stick a sign up for each one!

Stevian said :

Maybe they’re trying to tell you something

well its a public path along there, and its quite tight when walking with a friend/family/children etc

Damn. I thought the headline said “The Civic Prole Farm.” That would have been much more interesting.

Henry82 said :

Yes it is quite tight across there. Particularly with the fire hydrant, its a wall of obstacles. When wet, those tiles are also a no go.

The other place that is very tight is the cafe outside of Eastrow and London circuit. Those tables seem to migrate further out (into the path) every time i ride past.

Maybe they’re trying to tell you something

…..are made for dancers

peterepete said :

The pole in the foreground of the second pic seems to disappear behind the emergency vehicles excepted sign which is clearly behind it. Maybe its all an illusion

Or maybe it really is the one that the signs are attached to.

Surely the 20km/h sign could at least share a pole with the “no entry/conditions” sign?

Then stick the street lamp on the same pole as the traffic light and remove the rogue pole, and we’re down to three poles, removing the ones that are the worst offenders on that corner.

Regardless of the colonnade, this part of the street is still used by pedestrians. Fewer obstructions will help people navigate the bus interchange with enhanced speed and safety.

The pole in the foreground of the second pic seems to disappear behind the emergency vehicles excepted sign which is clearly behind it. Maybe its all an illusion

Yes it is quite tight across there. Particularly with the fire hydrant, its a wall of obstacles. When wet, those tiles are also a no go.

The other place that is very tight is the cafe outside of Eastrow and London circuit. Those tables seem to migrate further out (into the path) every time i ride past.

and yet, and yet, not every corner in the civilised world is so adorned with a thicket of poles.

Heaven forbid the signs /other items :
1. Light up the place at night (esp in the CBD nightclub district);
2. Control traffic with signals;
3. Prevent unauthorised vehicles from entering a bus interchange;
4. Advise the speed limit in said interchange;
5. Advise that no parking is permitted along said interchange;
6. Provide seating for people to wait for a bus;
7. Provide a water source for ACT Fire Brigade. 
 
This leaves one pole unaccounted for, which happens to be within a metre of a large tree.
One would hope a cyclist would avoid said large tree .  
 
Not quite a pogo stick or a hula-hoop, but perhaps someone could invent levitating street signs.

Rollersk8r said :

I’m with you in theory but technically all those pics are in the bus interchange, where bikes are forbidden. There is a sign saying no bikes or skateboards, which is actually not on a pole but on the building on the Northbourne side.

The sign refers to the area under collonade. But given that it cites no authority or statute it’s really just a request.

I’m with you in theory but technically all those pics are in the bus interchange, where bikes are forbidden. There is a sign saying no bikes or skateboards, which is actually not on a pole but on the building on the Northbourne side.

Come on enterprising entrepreneurs of the nation’s capital, forget your zumba classes, ignore your boot camp mantra, (so last week), we implore you to make good use of these poles through the introduction of Pertiga, the new public pole dancing fitness craze.

So new in fact, you would be recognised as a true entrepreneur, introducing a craze that will sweep the nation (where copious quantities of poles exist) and forever your name will be as great as Richard P. Knerr and Arthur K. Melin, of Wham-O, who marketed the Hula Hoop, or George Hansburg of the pogo stick.

What are you waiting for? One things for sure, we’ll be waiting nearby when the new public pole dancing craze takes off.

I’m trying really hard to not mention the war.

I used to live in an apartment on Northbourne and it never took long for our balcony to be covered in a layer of dirty soot from the traffic passing by. Perhaps they have mutated from continuous exposure and have started sprouting offshoots. The one sans sign just hasn’t fully developed yet.

The one with nothing on it is clearly a backup for when drunks and socialists vandalise the other ones.

Erg0 said :

There are quite a few empty poles out in the ‘burbs too, they seem to leave them in place if the sign atop them is removed. I suggest that they put a sign on it: “This Pole Not in Use”.

Incidentally, I seem to recall our resident Australian Standards wonk saying that speed limit signs are supposed to be on their own pole.

2 poles on the corner would be lovely!

There are quite a few empty poles out in the ‘burbs too, they seem to leave them in place if the sign atop them is removed. I suggest that they put a sign on it: “This Pole Not in Use”.

Incidentally, I seem to recall our resident Australian Standards wonk saying that speed limit signs are supposed to be on their own pole.

10 minutes in the sin bin for you – to much common sense being applied – go on off you go.