Bicycle Austin forum

seth

Member

From: Austin, TX (Hyde Park)

Registered: 2008-05-27

Posts: 53

Website

Dell Children's Hospital death grating (@ Mueller)

Kristin and I were cruising through the Mueller development this evening and decided to check out the Dell Children's Hospital. Leaving the front entrance, there's a nice hill that provides a fair amount of speed. Be careful at the bottom of that hill, however. A scary grate is installed down there with several gaps that look like they'll grab a bike tire. A rider would be pitched directly over the handle bars and likely sent to the neighboring hospital emergency room.

Am I exaggerating this danger? See the photos below:

http://www.austinskatenotes.org/images/ … ary_grate/

Seth

plarson

Member

Registered: 2008-05-27

Posts: 42

Re: Dell Children's Hospital death grating (@ Mueller)

I'd at least hop the grate with the front wheel on those! We had some scary cattle guards at the Real Ale Ride at the bottom of a hill, but at least those were perpendicular! I understand that they need to drain the parking lot, but these are not good.

Jason

Member

From: Austin, TX

Registered: 2008-05-31

Posts: 48

Website

Re: Dell Children's Hospital death grating (@ Mueller)

That does look pretty brutal. There was a flipped manhole cover on northbound Guadalupe near 32nd St. about a week ago that was equally wheel-swallowing, but after calling 311 when I got home they had it fixed by the next day.

doughead

Member

Registered: 2008-05-27

Posts: 37

Re: Dell Children's Hospital death grating (@ Mueller)

I guess that is what passes for a "bike friendly" development in Austin these days.

tomwald

Moderator

From: 78722

Registered: 2008-05-27

Posts: 290

Re: Dell Children's Hospital death grating (@ Mueller)

I am in contact with Catellus, the developer at Mueller.  I have reported this problem and someone will get back to me soon.

tomwald

Moderator

From: 78722

Registered: 2008-05-27

Posts: 290

Re: Dell Children's Hospital death grating (@ Mueller)

I have left a voice mail with the maintenance office at the Dell Medical Center.  I will report here when there is follow-up info.

I will likely go to the site to show the maintenance person the hazard.  Where can I find the grate?  I've posted a map to my Flickr account.

http://flickr.com/photos/tomwald/2595570549/
(image may be temporary)

seth

Member

From: Austin, TX (Hyde Park)

Registered: 2008-05-27

Posts: 53

Website

Re: Dell Children's Hospital death grating (@ Mueller)

it's right next to the hospital sign at the bottom of that hill. There's only ONE hill anywhere near the children's hospital. Your map doesn't provide enough detail for me to see street names, building names, etc.

This is the sign:
http://www.austinskatenotes.org/images/ … 204584.jpg

Seth

tomwald

Moderator

From: 78722

Registered: 2008-05-27

Posts: 290

Re: Dell Children's Hospital death grating (@ Mueller)

I received the following e-mail today:

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:     RE: [Fwd: photo of grates]
Date:     Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:45:08 -0500
From:     Smith, Gary <GSmith at seton.org>
To:     <tomwald at gmail.com>

Tom,

Temporarily we have grates pushed together and we have a contractor coming out to take measurements to install spacers in between grates.

Thank you,
Gary Smith
Chief Engineer Plant Operations
Dell Children's Medical Center
Ph:(512)324-0119
Fax:(512)324-0701
gsmith at seton.org