Bicycle Network: Good Design Guides

Dodging the Blue Meanies

24 January 2012. They are intended to innocently alert us to the location of fire hydrants, but as some riders have discovered to their shock, the raised, bright-blue reflectors can be mean and slippery in the wet.

You can be leaning your way around a damp corner, totally in control, and suddenly: bang, clatter, ouch! The front tyre has hit the protruding blue marker, slipped on the shiny surface, and lost adhesion. The Blue Meanie has struck.

Blue Raised Reflective Pavement Markings (RRPMs) are used to mark water points and are supposed to be be located adjacent to either the centre-line, or traffic lane line on a multi-lne road.

There is even an Australian Standard (1742.2) that indicates this offset as 25mm to 50mm from the centreline.

In such a location, the the blue RRPMs should not in the path of a person typically riding on the left side of the road.

Yet some riders have reported to us that they have encountered the Blue Meanies a long way from where they are supposed to live, and right where their tyre is usually headed.

These markers are installed by the water agencies. If there are any located contrary to the guidelines that are of concern to cyclists, you could report these to the relevant agency.

If you see any really poorly located Blue Meanies, grab a photo and send it to us.