Road quality

[killa]

Starting to get pissed off now with the road surfaces on the way to work and in and around Cheltenham.
Who do I write a letter to, the council?
And, how exactly do you put it across so they take notice??
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Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Suzuki]

Just say you know where they live, and threaten them with a visit from MC KILLA !
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[paulthewitt]

complain away. if i ever get a bike i'll be riding out that way. i believe it is the council you complain to.

or threaten em! plod might not like you tho!

Paul

[Ste]

Write in the same way you wrote your rants about karma.

Send it with www.faxyourmp.com

What exactly do you say? Ermm, explain clearly and completely about all the roads which are a problem; point them out on a map, photos and a paragraph about them I'd reckon. Explain how dangerous those problems are to someone on a bike and find out about accidents (car, bike, pedestrian, anything) on those roads within the last 12 months maybe. Maybe use of the BCF proof reading facility.

What are you hoping to achieve as I doubt they'll go and fix all the roads after your one letter. You'll (I'd expect) get some reply from them pointing out some bollocks about budgets and other such things. Not much you can do then other than either continue sending them letter until they do go and fix the roads for you or get more people complaining with you; local paper maybe?

[killa]

Cheers for the info Ste……
There are in Cheltenham some bloody asteroid craters around the place, especially on corners.
I have noticed them for ages and now think it is time to take action, the Echo (local paper) is in the centre of town, should I write a letter to them first or send them a copy of the one I send the local MP?
Cheltenham, believe it or not is quite a renowned place for being in the Cotswolds, being a nice place to see and the horse racing blah blah blah. I have been to many towns and cities and haven’t noticed severe road conditions like the ones here.
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[the grim reaper]

Something else to think about, if you come off due to a problem with the road surface, the council are not liable unless the problem has already been reported. You may be saving some other biker a fortune.

It is because of this that a lot of bad roads get sorted pretty quickly, once they have been reported, because the councils can't afford to pay out.

Cheers

Grim
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[Ste]

[stinkwheel]

There is an established system for motorcyclists to report road defects which is supported by the BMF and sponsored by bennets insurance.

https://www.bmf.co.uk/report-a-road/
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
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[craigs23]

I'm getting really annoyed with the new re-surfacing which is going on down my favourite back roads. The council are spraying compressed gravel, or what ever it's supposed to be all over the roads.

It's fine for cars, but the 'gravel' doesn't compress properly, meaning that ridges of loose gravel are scattered in the middle of the lane and towards the central line/gutter - how on earth a motorcycle is supposed to corner properly by changing line and staying out of the gravel has still got me baffled. It's bloody dangerous, and ruining my most enjoyable country lanes.

[bazza]

[killa]

I think the point is, you shouldn’t have to.
Roads are meant to be safe always, councils cutting down on coasts getting cheap surfacing is queer.
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Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[bazza]

[killa]

Yeah I think I’ll go shell out a few quid and get my shocks adjusted, change my head set every few thou, my seat softened and get my FUCKING HEAD CHECKED.
If a road has a hole in it, they should fix it, these road are dangerous and some on my commute, if I took another route it would take me longer.
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[dainesefreak]

I agree that you shouldn't have to.

I've been caught out by this shit at least three times whilst they have been laying it on country B roads. You don't get any choice about riding through it and it's very dangerous, not to mention the amount of shite that gets stuck all over the bike/tyre then flung off against anything and everything. As well as being bombarded by anything else passing in the opposite direction.

Why should I have to avoid certain roads on my way home or to work long enough for them to be safe? I shouldn't have to face un-necessary danger, especially when my tax money pays for it. Road surfaces should be safe for all road users, otherwise they should be closed until they are.

[craigs23]

It's a case of adapting my riding to suit the roads, but for all the wrong reasons.

Okay, the roads were rutted in places, and needed resurfacing, but this stuff they lay down is potentially dangerous. I ride these roads now as the conditions apply - very carefully. But it shouldn't be like this. The surface (which looks like compressed gravel, not asphalt) also hides deeper patches of gravel because anything above 20 mph means that you can't pick out individual clumps of gravel - until you're riding on it, with the tyres squirming and gravel 'pinging' off your exhausts.

It's ridiculous - and it's being used on more and more roads near to where I live - it's ruined some of my favourite back roads, and as I've already mentioned, potentially dangerous for motorcyclists.

[Minky_monkey]

We've got a couple of real dodgy bits of road around here, it's primarily where a services company has dug a trench, and then refilled it with new tarmac. The trouble is the new tarmac shrinks slightly smaller than that of the existing road.

I came round a bend the other day, and the bike followed this trench round the corner! I was just relieved that it followed the line of the corner otherwise I could have neded up anywhere!

[robbiehall]

I have see people suggest taking photos of the damaged road surface with a newspaper in the shot (with date and headline visible) and sending those to the council. Also writing about how you almost 'lost control' on the bad surface, and how if you had crashed then a compensation claim would be following very soon.

Rob
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[bazza]

[stinkwheel]

They have been gravelling roads like that for years, certainly since before I was born. That is how it is done and gives a high grip, hard wearing road surface. This type of surface only works if traffic runs over the loose gravel for a while to compact it in before the road is swept. If you closed the road, it would be exactly the same when they reopened it.

I suppose another alternative would be to close the road and pay someone to run up and down it with a road roller for a fortnight?

The loose chippings are only there for a short time, just slow down a bit 'till they are cleared. You will be glad of them in the winter when the snow and ice comes.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[impaler]

Well my local council's chippings-and-tar resurfacing has obviously gone really well... this just shows how shit it is...
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