Gravel top roads

[buggi]

Do you think there is cause for complaint when council's choose to resurface roads in that shite gravel top surface? They are doing it to all the roads round here and i personally think it's really dangerous to cyclists, You're steaming down a hill at 35mph and you hit this gravel surface, the last thing you wanna do is brake on it... and there's a tight bend approaching.

in the long term the cars will, of course, clear it... by pushing it up into the corners just where the cyclists cycle.

i'm really looking forward to my journey to work tomorrow.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Yes, complain: active travel here, active travel there ... then they try to kill you?

 

[buggi]

it's like they want to do everything to encourage people on their bikes, and then set out to kill them??!!

 

[Accy cyclist]

They've done the same around here on a few roads recently. Like you say it's very dangerous but around here it's just another add on to the list of poor road conditions. The gravel tends to get stuck under my mudguards.

 

[buggi]

complaint sent:

Hi
While cycling home tonight I came across yet another newly laid gravel top road surface, and pondered, "why do the council do everything they can to promote cycling and then put down a road surface completely detrimental to a cyclists safety?".
Has the Council never thought about the problems that a gravel top surface pose to cyclists? Cornering is near on impossible, and when you come down a hill you have no choice but to do so as speed and hope for the best, because the last thing you want to do is put your brakes on, when on gravel... a sure way to ensure you have a tarmac proximity incident.
Of course, in time, the car tyres will clear the gravel... into piles at the edges of the road, corners and middle of junctions, just where cyclists naturally ride.
Having come off on gravel roads twice in my "cycling career" suffering severe bruising and also a broken collar bone, I have to ask myself that, as roads are for all users, why the safety of cyclists is not a consideration when deciding on the road surface?
Perhaps its something the council should consider in the future. Meanwhile I will so look forward to my journey tomorrow, down the hill through Bishops Tachbrook, while also pondering why that road was resurfaced anyway, as it didn't actually have any potholes on it, only a slightly rough surface for about 20 yards which was far preferable to the treacherous surface you have now laid?

 

[biggs682]

bet you dont get a reply

 

[Hitchington]

buggi will get a reply from the council REPLY-BOT 3000, or some unpaid intern/YTS person, probably

 

[yello]

There's another thread somewhere, 'Brain dead councils' I think it was.

My wife came off on gravel that had collected on a bend. Impressive cuts and grazes but she's otherwise ok. So is the bike.

Tbh, I don't think you'll get much joy from the council. I think you'll just have to ride aware.

 

[Leaway2]

I cycled past the machines this morning in Timperley. The "loose chippings" signs have already gone up, saying Tuesday Wednesday

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

They've done a few roads around here, now the the gravels gone, but because they didn't fill in the surface damage/potholes first, they're going to be starting again.

 

[Over The Hill]

Just a thought here- should you not just be cycling at the right speed for the road surface?

 

[Leaway2]

Just a thought here- should you not just be cycling at the right speed for the road surface?

It is practically impossible to ride in it at all. The gravel builds up in front of each tyre sending them in different directions.
That coupled with the threat of thousands of sharp flint embedded in you tyres, you are going to puncture any second.

 

[numbnuts]

In my area we have had all the signs up for over 6 weeks now, but no work started, I hope they have run out of money

 

[fossyant]

I complained last year, council wasn't interested blah blah. Took months before it settled down. Still a bit gravelly in places now, over 12 months later.

 

[pplpilot]

...While cycling home tonight I came across yet another newly laid gravel top road surface....big snip

I live in Solihull, cant say I've seen too much of it, then again when all the planets are aligned and I get the chance to cycle to work I cycle out toward Lapworth then jump onto the canal all the way into the city centre. I can also send a complaint in too. I wonder if Solihull CC have had anything to say on the matter, at a guess id say they have a few hundred members?