Some things are sent to try us,

[maison]

We are currently touring Brittany and Normandy and today arrived at Lion-sur-mer, to overnight on a Camping-Car Park Aire.

We arrived at the barrier, presented our card, and the barrier opened. As we entered through the barrier a motorhome was manoeuvring so we had to stop halfway through. So far so good. The manoeuvring motorhome parked so we continued.

Then the barrier came down with us halfway through. It hit the motorhome roof about a foot from the rear and then dropped down becoming wedged between the rear of the motorhome and the bikes on our rear mounted rack. We were stuck fast, couldn’t go forward or backwards. The barrier was now bent about three feet out of true and poking diagonally between the bikes and the motorhome. It was jammed with its end against the rear panel and the shaft of the barrier was wedged against my bikes seat post.

Our only way out was to take the bikes off the rack so freeing the barrier, which we did, watched by an appreciative French motorhomer. Afterwards I realised that I should have taken a photo with the barrier in situ but, in the panic that we might have damaged the m/h, I didn’t think to do that.

We rang the emergency number for CCP and reported the incident including the fact that their barrier was now bent at a substantial angle. They took all the details and there stands the story to present. We didn’t manage to get the name of the Frenchman who watched us trying to remove the barrier but I did record his reg. number in case we need it.

Fortunately, we heard the barrier hit the roof and stopped within about three feet, as we were only moving slowly, so we don’t appear to have suffered any damage.

It appears that the Aire is covered by CCTV so we hope that it proves our case.

It was just one of those days,………. Again.

 

[2bob]

thats always my fear with them

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

When we were at Oustriem the Aire there is barrier controlled..We watched a convoy of 3 French vans trundle in about 1 ft apart and the next day go out in convoy again all together.
3 for the price of one
I always ensure on barriered Aires that there are no obstructions ahead in case the barrier is on a timer. We have seen entrances where there are 2 barriers with a space in between each to allow for 1 motorhome at a time. An Aire at Biarritz is one we have seen like that.

 

[NicandJay]

maison we had the same thing happen to us on another Camping Car Park aire further south. Fortunately the barrier bounced off our top edge and off the covered bikes on the rack. I would have thought they should have the safety switch but obviously not.

 

[Spriddler]

So sorry, but.............

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[maison]

When we were at Oustriem the Aire there is barrier controlled..We watched a convoy of 3 French vans trundle in about 1 ft apart and the next day go out in convoy again all together.
3 for the price of one
I always ensure on barriered Aires that there are no obstructions ahead in case the barrier is on a timer. We have seen entrances where there are 2 barriers with a space in between each to allow for 1 motorhome at a time. An Aire at Biarritz is one we have seen like that.

We would normally do the same. Unfortunately we had started to enter when people moved across the Aire and we had to stop. There is no open space to pull into on this Aire as it is very small. C’est La vie!

 

[maison]

maison we had the same thing happen to us on another Camping Car Park aire further south. Fortunately the barrier bounced off our top edge and off the covered bikes on the rack. I would have thought they should have the safety switch but obviously not.

I would have thought that there should be two safeguards, at least.

A detection loop to ensure the barrier area is clear before it comes down.

A pressure sensitive switch to reverse its direction if it comes into contact with something.


Clearly neither of these were in place.

 

[maison]

Update.

This morning a French lady came to see us from the neighbouring motorhome. She had written a brief note, together with her name and telephone number, saying she had seen the barrier come down across our bike rack, giving the date and approximate time. She also left her vehicle reg. number. She thought it may be useful to us.

There are still some good people about.

 

[TDub49]

When we were at Oustriem the Aire there is barrier controlled..We watched a convoy of 3 French vans trundle in about 1 ft apart and the next day go out in convoy again all together.
3 for the price of one
I always ensure on barriered Aires that there are no obstructions ahead in case the barrier is on a timer. We have seen entrances where there are 2 barriers with a space in between each to allow for 1 motorhome at a time. An Aire at Biarritz is one we have seen like that.

The entrance at Ploubalay is like that - effectively an "air lock" (geddit? ) which means going through the first barrier and then panicking slightly (when you haven't realised what's going on), on finding yourself confronted by another barrier which doesn't move until the one you came through has closed. Obviously gaming the system is not uncommon sur le continent, anymore than it is in this country, and I guess that the investment in double barriers pays off in the long run.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

When we were students ,1970's, we used to park up for uni on a massively wide hardly used pavement ,directly opposite a barriered council car park. The council complained to uni about the parking and not using the pay car park. They wouldn't give concessions.
The barrier was controlled by a magnetic loop system .as you paid to go in the barrier lifted and when the car went over the loop , it closed.
On the way out the barrier lifted as you went over the loop to exit.
It was easy really to defeat ,we simply put a small metal toolbox on the inside of the exit to raise the barrier and drove in through there.
The council never did catch on.

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[G-RMPS]

Many moons ago my new XJ6 broke down for the third time in the long stay car park at Heathrow (that's another story). This time a breakdown truck appeared to tow me out. The driver bought an exit ticket, entered the car park, hooked up my car and headed for the exit barrier. He put the ticket in the machine, the barrier lifted and he drove slowly forward. The barrier started to come down between the truck and the car. A little gentleman "of colour" dashed out of his hut and tried to hold up the barrier. I still have the vision of the poor man crumbling downward with the pole descending on top of him