I recently posted on a forum, Road C.C. , after watching
breakfast tele and was a bit incensed by the crass comments by the out of touch
media personalities. The line ‘it’s the motorists who suffer most from
potholes’ sent my blood pressure up considerably, so I posted the question.
‘What do cyclists and the CTC say to that?’
Below is a response that I thought was brilliant, a
totally different outlook on the reasons for pothole formation and where the
responsibility lies. Just thought members would also like the comments.
'Roads are there to be used and any damage caused by cars/lorries/buses is ALWAYS sited at the edge of some patch on the surface. The problem is poor quality repairs by utilities companies who are allowed to dig up the road then replace the smallest possible area with soft materials with no follow up repair. These companies would be screaming out if they were made to take the full impact of repairing the damage they cause. It is always the side of the road which is covered in this patchwork quilt of repairs. The middle of the road is smooth and well kept; if I can get to cycle there all is well, but cars do like to go faster then me so I am forced to cycle over all of these joints and holes.
Lets not blame drivers or even the council, it is British
Gas, British Telecom, Virgin, Anglian Water etc. Council Tax payers are
subsidizing these companies and allowing them to charge just £4.99 for
broadband whilst cyclists are being injured and our roads go unrepaired. The
wrong people are paying to maintain infrastructure and transport as a use for
public roads is coming a poor second to servicing private utilities.'
