ok, its wet and I am on my way to work. Come to a downhill section t-junction, I slow using my front brake (my wife would have my balls if I took it off plus I ride 52x16), look to the right and then find myself flat on my face. Just happened to roll over a white line.
Surely there is a better method to mark lines on roads and bike paths than the white paint they currently use. A bit of a search shows that asphalt has a slip resistance factor of around 75 wherease thermoplastic paint used to paint roads has a dry slip resistance factor of around 30, wet it and you get a deathtrap.
In the change room there were a couple of other victims of the white line. Are councils/state road maintenance departments liable for injuries and damage as a result of incidents like this ?
Very good question, and this has been raised before. I know of one instance when it was brought before a local court, but was dismissed on the basis that a cycle path was also provided alongside the road. YOu would have an argument if NO cyclepath is close by, and that you had to swerve over the white line to miss an obstacle. Write a letter to local council…you may very well get some cash!!!