Popular Bike Route to be RUMBLED
Tom Evans
We have just learned that TDOT plans to rumble one of the most popular bike routes in Sumner County – New Hope Road (aka New Shackle Road). This road has 2-foot wide shoulders in the section to be rumbled. However, TDOT spec say it has 4-foot wide shoulders. If you have ridden New Hope you know the only 4-foot wide section is a block north and south of SR-174 and nowhere else.
Bicyclist do not have an alternate route. That is why it is so popular. It is straight and flat with manageable 2-foot wide shoulders soon to be rumbled. In the past bicyclists and motorists have learned to Share this Road. That is soon to end!
http://fogbees.blogspot.com/2012/05/rumble-on-new-hope-road.html
Tom
Tom Evans
All,
I have measured the section of the road that has recently been resurfaced. About 80% of it has repaired/expanded shoulders that are now approximately the 4-ft wide. Several sections of the road have less shoulder but Jessica has reported that the contractor has been instructed not to rumble anything that does not meet the 4-foot minimum.
About another mile of this road that is ridden by bicyclists has 2-foot shoulder. TDOT does not plan to rumble this section.
I am anticipating TDOT will use its new 8-in wide rumble on the fog line, which leaves a little over 3-foot in which to ride. It is tight, but can be ridden safely. Sections of the road are paralleled by guardrail with between 3-foot to 4-foot clearance, plus there are several squeeze points of 2-foot shoulder. These will be a safety issue which I hope TDOT’s contractor will not rumble.
I am sure the bicyclists are going to feel this rumble is a safety issue, even though the average bicyclist will be able to manage it with a little practice. Even if they accidentally hit the rumble in TDOT’s new spec, it is not bone-jarring and should not cause them to lose control. Nevertheless, extra caution will be required.
TDOT reports that SR-258 has a history of run-off-the-road accidents. Because the section used by bicyclists is flat and relatively straight while other sections (not used to any great extent by bicyclists) are hilly and curvy and does not even have a shoulder, my best guess is the section being rumbled is not likely to be a ROTR issue, but I have no facts to substantiate that.
The major issue is -- this road is probably has the highest bike traffic in Sumner County. The rumble will be a safety issue for the bicyclists but the road can be traveled by bike with extra caution. The shoulder has been repaired/expanded to fall marginally with the minimum FHWA guidelines for rumbling.
Tom
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Bud Curtis
I have a friend at TDOT who is checking into this issue and confirmed that TDOT has a new standard for rumbling roads that accommodates cyclists.
Bud
Bud Curtis
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