A report to Snap, Send, Solve has resulted in the hasty removal of a dangerous drain and road plate in the City of Melbourne.
A drain located on a steep decent on Little Bourke Street in Melbourne’s CBD (between Russell Street and Exhibition Street) posed a risk to people riding bikes due to the upward angle of asphalt on the downhill side of the drain (see image above).
A Bicycle Network team member first reported the hazard via Snap, Send, Solve on 10 May to the City of Melbourne. The engineering team send a personal response the following day, indicating that the issue will be investigated.
In mid-July, a road plate appeared, flattening out the dip and reducing the risk of a rider unexpectedly hitting the drain. Unfortunately, the plate was not properly secured and gradually slipped away from the drain due to car and truck movements.
Another Snap, Send, Solve report was made which saw the plate secured properly using bolts the very next day.
By the end of the week, the City of Melbourne had fully restored the asphalt and drain permanently, with the angle of the road carefully considered. People who ride bikes can now pedal over the drain without even knowing it’s there.
This is a great example of how in many areas, Snap Send Solve is an effective way to report infrastructure issues as it directs your report to the relevant authority.
It takes less than 30 seconds to report a hazard. It prompts you to upload photos, then poses a few questions to describe the problem. The report is saved in your history for follow up.
By reporting local issues, we can all do a little to help make it easier and safer for more people to ride bikes.
Examples of reports that can improve safety.
- Debris on roads or in bike lanes
- Pot holes
- Dangerous road plates
- Bike path asphalt lifting due to tree roots
- Dangerous gaps around stormwater drains
- Traffic signage faults
Become our friend
Find out more about Bicycle Network and support us in making it easier for people to ride bikes.