Stocklands Santa Adventure
Two weeks ago, a number of the Ulysses Gippsland Central members spent a Saturday being trained in the art of traffic control. The course was quite detailed describing the number one item to be achieved: The safety of people in the situation where cars and people come close together. That's the starting point. From there scenario's unfold as to what is required to achieve an acceptable vehicle speed relative to people. The focus really was on road works and static events like fairs, etc. Moving events like parades and bicycle rides, etc, weren't given quite enough coverage.
Be that as it may, at the end of the day we were all capable of drafting a traffic management plan for just about any situation. And as a bonus, we were all trained in the fine art of 'The Stop Sign'.
Today was the first day I was able to put my newly acquired skills to practical use.
The Stocklands shopping centre in Traralgon annually put on a 'Santa Street Parade' and our Ulysses group was organised to handle road closures as required during the event. The local police were also involved and handled the main task of being at the very front and the very back of the parade. We had a meeting the previous day to go over intersection assignments, starting times and the handing out of the orange reflective jackets.
The parade was scheduled to start at 11:00. We arrived at 10:00, had our final briefing and traveled to our assigned intersection by 10:30. Each of us had a portable barricade to we were to move from the side of the road to close the road. The strategy was to minimise the inconvenience to vehicles while keeping things safe for the parade. Our illustrious leader had an illuminating dream the previous night and came up with the idea of rolling closures. This meant only roads where the parade was actually located were closed. Very good idea.
The parade comprised of the following:
Not much past 11:00 the parade starts. I haul out the portable barricade and prepare for a showdown with an irritate motorist. As it turned out that didn't eventuate. It was more of informing people the route of the parade and giving a smile to the patrons.
Everything worked like clockwork. No problems at all. Well, nothing of any consequence anyway. I was assigned a point at the parade start and right at the end. As it turned out by the time I arrived at the second point the parade had already arrived. Fortunately a police car had things in hand further up the road.
Insights
The police seemed a little unfamiliar with the Traffic management Plan we had submitted to them. I had to explain the plan to them with the assistance of the route map I had been provided. I mentioned this to our leader during our debrief and was surprised to learn that they had been given a copy of the route and street closures in advance of the event. Communication breakdown somewhere?
The behavior of the patrons was a little bit concerning at times. At the very front of the parade gathering area, there is a roundabout (where the RACV is located) and families seemed to be of the false opinion that the road was closed and were happily strolling on the road around the roundabout with absolutely no concern for vehicles.
Santa and his Elves were a bit of a concern. There 'pleasing strategy' was to throw out handfuls of lollies to the children. Great idea, but I fear Santa's arm has become a little weak with age. Rather than reaching the patrons, the lollies would fall on the road and children were scrambling all over the road trying to pick them up.
At my second assigned point I observed a vehicle reverse out of a parking bay between me and the police. For some obscure reason the driver of the vehicle opted to head for the police car where there was no exit. The driver should have gone the other way. Yes, I know, it was shorter the way they went!
All in all no dramas and a good first experience. Next week
I'm helping out with the annual 'Toy Run'.
I'll let you know how that goes.