Beware distressing pics

[Vantage]

I hope that guy makes a speedy recovery and isn't put off cycling again.
The roads now are a danger to cyclists these days and not just because of maniac drivers.
The front of my bars were forced an inch down thanks to hitting a pothole this morning and I have the bolts on the stem pretty damn tight.
Time something was done about it.

 

[lane]

New government policy today - in future work by utility companies they must first see if they can dig the pavement up or grass verge rather than the road in order to prevent dealays to motor vehicles and more potholes. Not sure this is the best policy. It will probably also include prioritising digging up cycle paths to prevent delays to motor traffic.

 

[Cycleops]

[QUOTE 5229762, member: 9609"]
might he have stayed on if bike hadn't failed ?[/QUOTE]
Quite possibly. We can only speculate.

Terrible injuries. Wish him a speedy recovery.

 

[Milzy]

Us roadies trade off heavy safety gear for other gains. A full face MTB helmet would have saved his face but they’re just not practical for road cycling. I’ve noticed a few massive pot holes around here lately. Some bigger than that one.

 

[Slick]

It is a risk we all take. Most could probably point the finger at my example as my own fault, but it's amazing just how quickly you can get caught out. On a commute ride a couple of months ago it was still dark and raining. On a long slow left hand bend I could feel the cars getting closer as they were desperate to pass. I don't usually pull in tight at thus bit but there is room and as it was dark you could tell there was nothing on coming. I ran through a puddle and hit the inevitable pot hole which sent a huge bone shake through my whole body. My front wheel buckled badly but at least I managed to stay on.

I hope the guy in the picture recovers fully soon.

 

[Drago]

Its not an unreasonable expectation that in a first world country where we pay some of the highest taxes in the world that the roads will be maintained in a safe state.

 

[screenman]

Its not an unreasonable expectation that in a first world country where we pay some of the highest taxes in the world that the roads will be maintained in a safe state.

I am not sure all the tax collected is spent wisely.

 

[oldfatfool]

Underinvestment, pah!

Motor vehicles keep getting heavier, so doing more damage to roads and they're not being taxed enough more to cover it.

It ain't underinvestment.

But i didnt think it was road tax

 

[raleighnut]

But i didnt think it was road tax

You might but millions of other fools think it is.

 

[Drago]

Let's also blame sat navs. LGVs that were confined largely to main roads now find themselves on all sorts of small roads because of the ubiquitous t**t nav.

 

[mjr]

But i didnt think it was road tax

There is currently no weight element to any motor vehicle taxes IIRC. There probably should be, else we'll all need to pay more council and income tax, which people push back against and the roads go to hell, plus there's insufficient incentive to use lighter vehicles.

But my main point is that refusing to replace the carpet you just burned is not "underinvestment" - it's vandalism and that's what motorists are doing to the roads.

 

[raleighnut]

There is currently no weight element to any motor vehicle taxes IIRC. There probably should be, else we'll all need to pay more council and income tax, which people push back against and the roads go to hell, plus there's insufficient incentive to use lighter vehicles.

But my main point is that refusing to replace the carpet you just burned is not "underinvestment" - it's vandalism and that's what motorists are doing to the roads.

In fact Electric Vehicles will be heavier in order to get a decent range out of em.

 

[Slick]

There is currently no weight element to any motor vehicle taxes IIRC. There probably should be, else we'll all need to pay more council and income tax, which people push back against and the roads go to hell, plus there's insufficient incentive to use lighter vehicles.

But my main point is that refusing to replace the carpet you just burned is not "underinvestment" - it's vandalism and that's what motorists are doing to the roads.

I get your main point but when your talking about commercials it's all about weight when it comes to tax. It's been a while but IIRC it may be measured in axles but more of them = more weight anyway. I don't think they do as much damage as the weather does either.

 

[mjr]

I get your main point but when your talking about commercials it's all about weight when it comes to tax. It's been a while but IIRC it may be measured in axles but more of them = more weight anyway. I don't think they do as much damage as the weather does either.

I thought the weight element was on the trailer tax not the motor vehicle tax but looking again, I think there may be a weight element as well as mainly an axle one.

Given that many cycle-only routes last years between minor repairs unless they were built on the cheap (and even then some survive without potholes), I don't feel that weather can do the damage without heavy vehicles applying the pressure. It ain't the winter, but the motoring lobby has been pretty successful at pointing the finger at the weather.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Roads which used to be properly repaired now get "throw and roll" patching at best. We live in a small village, without HGVs, and relatively low traffic counts. Some holes are being re-repaired after being patched only a few weeks ago. The edges are unsealed, even to the untrained eye, and it's screamingly obvious it's a bodge which won't last.

Put simply, least-cost methods are clearly being used, and freeze-thaw has had a field day over this last winter as a result. I can only imagine the levels of claims at the moment.