Oversized recycling trucks causing damage
I stood and watched Ealings new Kerbsiders. probably the most dangerous and useless vehicles to be deployed on Ealings streets.Watching for the entire 20 mins it took the crew to cover just 100m of Chandos Avenue it is not difficult to see just how the recycling system is now so pi**poor.The vehicles are designed for wide roads with driveway parking to allow operatives to stay on the kerbside. Here they are being used in side streets barely wide enough to accomodate the vehicle.Consequently operatives have barely enough space to negotiate the loading side of the vehicle without clipping parked vehicles with the recycling bags and boxes.There is so little safe clearance that loaders have to place bags and boxes on parked vehicles or just do one bag or box at a time. Which clearly they now do.If you wondered where the scuffs and scratches on your car have come from look no further.In fact the operatives are very careful, clearly wary that these vehicles are dangerous to operate but this and care towards residents property has really slowed them up.Their wheelbase is too long for them to negotiate small streets easily. As are the new standard refuse trucks which have axle loads that exceed the loads recommended for victorian side street sewers, water mains and services.This is also a problem where raised crossings are placed on main roads. The resulting bounce caused by a bus or truck sends a shock wave several times the laden weight of the vehicle resulting in fractures to gas, water and sewer services.As usual, none of these factors have been considered in road projects or deployment of vehicles.But we really do need to know who the numbskull is that thought these machines would be a good idea.When the loader is operated, there is barely enough room for the operatives to keep clear it is an accident waiting to happen.It takes 4 times longer to load the vehicles and it is a very slow process.The loader comes perilously close to trees and street lights. In fact there is already visible marks of damage in Northfields and South ealing
Michael Brandt ● 4865d2 Comments