Wangi Wangi, Lake Macquarie: Brylcreem, standing room only and Death Race 2000.

Now here’s another thought or two on local matters. One not so serious, the other perhaps more so.

For those who catch buses, it’s no surprise that there aren’t very many bus stop shelters to dodge bad weather. Some school kids get to sit on verandahs’ of two homes that I know of, which have the bus stops’ in front of their home. The owners must be pretty easy going and perhaps sympathetic to the cause. I think the kids would be fairly happy they can.

Thus, the scene was set for some raised eyebrows around the end of October 2012, or very early November. I didn’t particularly note the date, just the hive of activity at a nearby bus stop on Dobell Drive near Wangi Workers Club, Wangi Bowling Club and the netball courts. There was plant of all types, a lot of noise, some workers busy and others watching; even some lolly pop signs to control traffic. This, I think, occurred over a few different days. For those not in the know (like me), it was all a mystery. Soon solved after the dust cleared by the appearance of a concrete slab where commuters wait for the buses. All conjecture led to the possiblility of a shelter at the bus stop. As the slab continued to sit, a few progress shots revealed a dab here and a dab there to improve things.

My Dad would have called this the work of the Brylcreem Boys (a little dab’ll do ya). In his Sydney days this name was given to the road repair crews who dabbed bitumen in holes created after a lot of rain and traffic. For those who have never heard of Brylcreem I have included a video for a bit of time travel. As a bonus, this may help one or two with their love life.

Eventually, a bus stop shelter was erected the very day I had earlier photographed the new and improved seating on the slab ( Dec 14,’12 ). The Brylcreem boys dabbed fast and furiously apparently, then vanished. As at the date of this post, the shelter, looking pretty good in a minimalist kind of way, sadly doesn’t have seating. Standing room only.

Onto my second thought. We don’t seem to have any pedestrian crossings in this area. In particular, to me,  a good spot for a crossing is where the current pedestrian refuge is between Wangi Workers and Wangi Bowling clubs. I wrote to Lake Macquarie City Council last year and received a reply from the Traffic and Transportation Engineer (Sept 2011). In summary, the amount of road traffic and pedestrians don’t qualify this location. In addition, it said, if crossings are placed in such areas of low volume usage then the chances of an accident are increased. This is due to assumptions by a driver that no one will be on the crossing and, pedestrians tend to walk out as if they have complete immunity and right of way. They do in theory of course, but not in real life.

Now I guess statistics show this, but I feel a little offended. After all, the road rules say to slow down and be prepared to stop at pedestrian crossings. The rules didn’t say keep going if low usage. The refuge is perhaps better than nothing but I think they can give a false sense of security. If it’s not a crossing, a driver doesn’t have to stop. People of all ages and alcohol content use this place to cross and it’s pretty narrow. There really isn’t much room for error from either user. One trip and it’s all over. The risk at this spot increasing, I think, over the Christmas/New Year/ school holiday season now in swing.

If you are wondering about Calamity Jane’s car from Death Race 2000, here’s a video link to the 1975 cult movie. The first 90 secs or so will give a good idea of the film and my reason (even if a little obscure) for inclusion.

Words for today;    Brylcreem – the girls will all pursue ya

What a cool, cool ad. I’m off to get some now.

More to come;     same blog time, same blog channel.

Newsflash:   Sometime between 7.30am of Wed 20th Feb and 7.30am of Thursday 21st Feb, 2013, a bench seat in the bus shelter appeared. Doesn’t run the full length of the shelter but an improvement all the same.