Grate Danger! New tool in the battle...

[K'Tesh]

Ladies and Gentlemen.... I give you...

The Department of Consumer and Business Services (http://egov.oregon.gov/DCBS/)

Building Codes Division (BCD) (http://www.cbs.state.or.us/bcd/)

The 2008 Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code (http://www.cbs.state.or.us/bcd/programs/plumbing/2008opsc.html)...

Check out:

Chapter 11
Storm Drainage (http://www.cbs.state.or.us/bcd/programs/plumbing/2008_opsc/Chapter_11.pdf)

1101.10.1.4 Catch Basin Grates. Grates for catch basins shall be made of approved materials and shall be capable of supporting the anticipated load. Grates shall be designed to prevent bicycle and wheelchair tires from entering or becoming entrapped.


My thanks to Jim, who I met at the BTA's tent at the Tour De Fat.

Turns out that Jim was once brought down by storm drain once.

Now, perhaps I can talk a few businesses into complying with the code...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3278/2780085165_4732bc1177.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ufobike/sets/72157605640010375/)
Including my own apartment complex. :mad:

Get Busy People! There's no reason to be laid low by drains!

See Something? DO SOMETHING!
K'Tesh

[Simple Nature]

So what about the phone numbers of who to call to report the problems for the different municipalities? And their emails if possible.

Does this fall under *code enforcement*?

Laws are only as good as the enforcement behind them.
Are there fines involved for not correcting a problem once noticed?
What is the motivation *not* to wait until someone gets hurt?

On a side note...
During the Bridge Pedal, I noticed the grates on the Freemont bridge at tire traps...
Guess it's okay there since we only go there once a year, huh :)

[Bent Bloke]

What is the motivation *not* to wait until someone gets hurt?

Their motivation should be to not get their butts sued off.

[Simple Nature]

Their motivation should be to not get their butts sued off.

You'd think :D

[jr98664]

It would do a world of good to have this law in the books in Washington. Apparently, the city of Seattle refused to , within a year, replace all of storm drains that Oregon would consider illegal because of cost.
Read the article here (http://www.seattleinjuryblog.com/2008/01/storm_drains_pose_danger_to_cy_1.html).

Such a law would probably make the difference here. Even in Vancouver, it would be very much appreciated. There's even a location on Columbia just south of Esther Short park where a grate is smack dab in the middle of the bike lane symbol; it's not an offending grate, but still, those things can be dangerously slick!