the state of the local roads (not ED specific - potholes everywhere in the world)

[firstchoicegary]

just wondering why when we pay so much to tax, mot and insurance on our cars/vans that we cannot drive on the roads without having to dodge massive potholes??? i know theres been alot of rain latley but every year they get worse and every year we pay more tax etc. surely the roads should be smooth and not dangerous.

gary

[ruffers]

We just had an extended spell of cold weather causing lots of damage due to freezing and yes there's a lot of potholes around.

I see gangs every day filling them in as I drive around; be fair, they can't do them all instantly.

Not sure where insurance comes into this btw?

[firstchoicegary]

the reairs never last though , insurance for damage to alloys etc. .i drive around the area from job to job and finding that the roads are getting bad

[ruffers]

Sorry, I wasn't clear. You seemed to link paying for insurance with road maintenance. Interesting idea though potentially that Admiral, Direct Line etc should contribute to road safety as it would be in their interests as keeps claims down..

[firstchoicegary]

well there was a big bmw alloy debate as they kept cracking due to the road surfaces, i doubt that any insurance company would help at all, shame as im sure the revenue involved in insurance premiums is massive!

[KalamityKel]

Do many people actually claim for such occurences tho?

[firstchoicegary]

sometimes , a new bmw alloy is around ?400 , the point i was making is the amount we contribute to drive the cars we own we should be able to drive on decent roads you know.

[KalamityKel]

I'd blame the cyclists... they dont pay anything yet wear the road out quite considerably... dont u think?

Sorry, I'll b serious... There r many things wrong wiv wot we pay for. Just think how many times a road, just after has been resurfaced, is dug up by various different companies and various different times when if u think about it it would make more sense if these various companies worked together and did everything (so far as they can) at the same time. Each time creating heavy traffic, closed roads, diversions for months at a time... AND the cost each time round... that would be a bigger concern to me... maybe

[firstchoicegary]

you are exactly right

[KalamityKel]

disclaimer *I'm not a road user (in terms of a vehicle driver) ;-)

[firstchoicegary]

so you are on public transport?

[KalamityKel]

yes and its incredibly painful. For purely selfish reasons I wouldn't suggest u joined us there's already too many ppl on board filling everything up!

WARNING! -I have many personal issues from my daily commuting this wk - WARNING!

[firstchoicegary]

i think last time i got a bus was 15 years ago and was 50p dont envy your travel journeys one bit, no one has any manners on public transport including drivers!

[KalamityKel]

The drivers r wot they r coz of the passengers... trust me I speak truth! no hush u over there *points to those looking on in disapprovement* just think about it ;-)

[firstchoicegary]

i hit another car at a set of lights at 5mph and my insurance sent me a letter recently apperantly paying out the driver ?7000, , how??

[KalamityKel]

I hope u questioned it

[firstchoicegary]

you cant insurance company deals with it , what a buma but had protected no claims bonus,

[Spartacus]

Question

With all of the pot holes after the snow, why do councils spend their 'under spend' at the end of the financial year on so called 'Road and Junction improvemens' (like the current one near the White Horse in Peckham) rather then filling in the bleeding holes ?

[tomchance]

Spartacus Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Question

>

> With all of the pot holes after the snow, why do

> councils spend their 'under spend' at the end of

> the financial year on so called 'Road and Junction

> improvemens' (like the current one near the White

> Horse in Peckham) rather then filling in the

> bleeding holes ?

Those works have been in the pipeline for quite a while, I don't think it would be sensible to jack them in at such a late stage.

Still, the potholes have made my daily cycle commute quite a lot scarier when you have to avoid foot-deep holes whilst contending with racing vans, buses and pedestrians wandering out into Rye Lane without looking :(

[firstchoicegary]

i think if vans and bike riders could have a beter relationship there would be less trouble on roads , i am a motorbike rider so therefore use my mirrors, but cyclists need to try and realise we dont have as much control over a 2 ton van as 150kg bike and rider. motorbikes have power to get out of trouble. not a harsh post just think if there was a theory test for cyclists then drivers be able avoid unforseen colloisions. . i would love to ride a bike to work but my job does not permit it.

[Horsebox]

firstchoicegary Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> cyclists need to try and realise we

> dont have as much control over a 2 ton van as

> 150kg bike and rider. motorbikes have power to get

> out of trouble.

A ridiculous thing to say. If you drive with due care and attention and at a sensible speed, respecting other road users, particularly cyclists, who are the most vulnerable road users, then you'd have as much control over your 2 ton van as is necessary to avoid any collisions etc

[firstchoicegary]

not when they ignore my indicator signals when im clearly in front and come up the side of the van or when they ignore red lights which apply to all road users. and why are cyclists not insured? i had a bike scrape side of my brand new van with handle bars and rode off. . is this fair??? who pays for my repair? yet also if i hit a cyclist regardless of blame i will pay costs on insurance , , is this a fair deal even though we share the same roads??

[Horsebox]

Gary, you're listing a lot of complaints here about your experience of road use. You started off complaining about potholes and have now moved on to cyclists. Everyone seems to be at fault except you.

Maybe it's time to get back on that bus? (?2 for a single or ?1.10 on Oyster pre-pay).

[firstchoicegary]

how come cyclists do not have to a complete a theory test or know the highway code?? if they want to be safe and intergrate with motor vehicles surely they should be tested on road safety etc and be licensed like motorbikes. a 50cc moped has top speed of 30mph , similar to cyclists on a good day and they need insurance tax mot cbt . . .

[firstchoicegary]

you are right and i apologise but last post went on to that subject and i am only responding to it