Title

Proactively Reducing Risk on Council

Shared PathsPhil Gray – GTA Consultants

Insurance & Risk Victorian Conference 2016

29 April 2016

Overview

• The Issue/Need

• Audit Process

• Quantifying Risk

• Examples and Treatments

• Case Study

• Summary

CYCLIST AWARDED $230,000 COMPENSATION

The Need?

• Council told to “Fix it or you

will be hit with large

damages” is the message of

the judgement

• Cyclist’s wheel hit bluestone

retaining wall

• Rider fell, striking steel stanchion holding an ‘Armco’

safety barrier and was

seriously injured

Infrastructure – for ALL users

Source: www.8-80cities.org/8-80-rule

Audit Journey

• Background Information

• Audit Process

• Audit Findings

• Risk Rating Allocation

• Design Guidelines

• Treatment Recommendations

• Council program of works

Audit Purposes

Identify Safety Hazards

Assign Risk

Rank Hazards

Best Practice Treatments

Integrate with GIS

Common Safety Considerations

1. Path Width

2. Obstacles

3. Hazards

4. Horizontal & Vertical Alignment

5. Surface Condition & Quality

6. Path Intersections

Quantifying Risk

• Severity Rating (SR)

• Probability Rating(PR)

• SR x PR = Risk Rating

Severity

RatingDefinition

1 Insignificant – no personal injuries

2Minor injury / scrape (band-aids

required only)

3

Significant injury – requires

medical attention (e.g. sprains or

wounds)

4Serious injury – requires hospital

visit (e.g. broken bones)

5 Death possible

Probability

Rating Definition

1 Incident unlikely to occur

2 Incident likely to occur on occasion

3Incident likely to occur once every 5

years

4High probability of incident – likely to

occur each year

5Incident almost certain – likely to occur

several times per year

SR PR RR

Likely Consequence Likelihood of Incident

Quantifying Risk

Low

Risk

Risk Rating 1 - 3

Low

Risk

Risk Rating 1 - 3

High

Risk Risk Rating 9 - 16

Extreme

Risk Rating 17 - 25

Medium

Risk

Risk Rating

4 - 8

LATERAL CLEARANCE HAZARDS

exposed guardrail

protected guardrail

OBSTACLE HAZARDS

Tendency to overprotect

Austroads Guidance

10.4.2 Bollards and U-rails

While opinions vary, there is considerable concern (and

growing evidence in the form of injury compensation

claims by cyclists) that the construction of these devices in

the centre of paths is hazardous to cyclists.

“”

10.4.3 Staggered Fence Treatment

A treatment that should only be used where there is a very

good reason… “ ”Source: Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6A: Pedestrian and Cyclist Paths

ADJACENT CLEARANCE HAZARDS

IN PATH HAZARDS

before

after

Separate Merge/Diverge

IN PATH HAZARDS

IN PATH HAZARDS

Treatment Considerations

(1)• REMOVE the Hazard

(2)• RELOCATE the Hazard

(3)• PROTECT the Hazard

Treatment

Examples

Path Width

and Volumes

• Revise Cycle Notes 21 to be consistent with Austroads guidelines

for separation

• Lower vehicle speed limits on non-arterial roads

• Promote a positive culture of sharing

space, emphasising that cyclists are required to give way to pedestrians

on shared paths

• Shared paths to be designed for 20

km/h or less cycling speed.

• Clause 56.06 of the Victoria Planning

Provisions be amended to require

separated cycling paths rather than

shared paths on connector and arterial roads in growth areas.

Some Key Recommendations:

No protection on

edge of bridge

Boulders

adjacent to

path edge

Boulders

adjacent to

path edge

Shopping trolley

adjacent to path

Debris

encroaching

onto path

Boulders

adjacent to

path edge

No warning sign

where the path

turns

QUIZ!

Case Study

Downhill

gradient

Entry gate

treatment

Gravel road

connection

Gravel road

connectionKororoit

Creek

Case Study

Audit Findings

• Steep gradient

• Right angle bend with exposed rocks and creek

High Risk

• Sight distance around bend

• Surface quality at connecting gravel path

• Line marking – broken thermoplastic

• Fenced gateway treatment

Medium Risk

Risk Extends Beyond Shared Paths

Footpaths On-Road

Bus StopsCar Parks

Shared Paths

Transport

Interchanges

Waterways

* RISK *Loading Docks

On-Road Hazards

Roundabouts – High Risk for Cyclists

Bicycle by-passBicycle by-passes

LATM

The ultimate in cyclist separation..

Summary

• Manage risk using proactive/preventative approach

• Regular audits and maintenance regimes

• Documentation – maintain records

• Claims often related to infrastructure (bollard, drain,

fence) – compare design standards

• Adequate warning of hazards – day and night

• Risk & liability extends beyond shared paths

Nurture culture of respect between path users

GTA consultants

Phil Gray

Senior Consultant

Phil.Gray@gta.com.au

@VeloGray

gta.com.au

Adelaide

Gold Coast

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Perth

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Complete transportation specialists