State of the roads

[OvertheHill]

Hello all - first post so be nice I've just started commuting into Manchester on my bike again for the first time since 1994! And despite the cycle lanes which are great, I can't believe how bad the roads are near the kerbs . Broken glass, potholes and nearly every grid is sunken and with crumbling tarmac. I've got front shocks and still take a battering - how on earth do you road bikers cope? Or is it just Manchester

 

[Flyingfox]

First of all

In short the answer is yes, the problems you describe are everywhere, I'm forever darting in and out to avoid sunken drains, potholes etc etc. If you're are doing the same route everyday you get to know where they are so can take averting action in time.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Welcome!!

I too commute into Manchester and agree that *some* of the cycle lanes can be useful, and that the roads are generally in a pretty poor state near the edges... the simple answer is to ride further out from the gutter - this has a couple of advantages..

1. You have space to go if someone comes too close
2. You avoid most of the rubbish/potholes etc.

Someone will be along in a minute to quote Cyclecraft at you. Whilst I haven't read the book it certainly seems to be a good starting point for getting tips on where/how to ride more assertively and safely.

Hope you find the forum useful.

 

[purplepolly]

Hello all - first post so be nice

Don't worry, the topic's not controversial enough for a battering! There's some real craters around at the moment but even worse are the narrow cracks that are not so obvious and just wide enough for a tyre. My commuting bike went over one pothole too many this morning and has developed a distinct wobble so it's out with the tourer for tomorrow.

 

[cheadle hulme]

Welcome OTH! Whats your commute route?

As per above, try and ride a bit further out, about 3 foot as a minimum - you'll soon get used to it and it gives you a bit more "wiggle" room.

The roads are particularly bad this year as the winter we have just had was one of the worst for a while. Expanding water that freezes + poor preventative maintenance = crumbling asphalt.

 

[OvertheHill]

Down (and back up!) Bury New Road. There are bits of it where I can ride further out but there's some quite narrow bits. And who invented bloomin' bendy-buses! You don't notice them too much in a car! What was wrong with double-deckers?

 

[longers]

You can report potholes using CTC's Fill That Hole website.

It works!

 

[HJ]

... I can't believe how bad the roads are near the kerbs . Broken glass, potholes and nearly every grid is sunken and with crumbling tarmac...

That is one of the reasons you should by cycling at least 1m out from the kerb, if you are just coming back to cycling, I would recommend reading Cyclecraft by John Franklin as it has lots of useful advice...

 

[fossyant]

Fill that hole usually works - Stockport Council do respond quickly, although there is a nasty stretch about 400 yards long on Dooley Lane (Otterspool near Marple - South Manchester) that I've been asking to be repaired on a regular basis the road is subsiding)- let's say it's too dangerous to ride within 2m of the curb.....the only plus side, is I'm usually breathing down the ass of cars as it's down hill and a 40......

 

[HJ]

Oh and welcome to the forum, sorry I was forgetting my manners...

 

[mattybain]

Down (and back up!) Bury New Road. There are bits of it where I can ride further out but there's some quite narrow bits. And who invented bloomin' bendy-buses! You don't notice them too much in a car! What was wrong with double-deckers?

Welcome to the boards OvertheHill

I actually commute down Bury Old Road but have been down New Road a number of times and yes some of the potholes are bad. However some of the craters on Bury old Road are unbelievable (and also on Cheetham Hill Road). There is one which although only a couple of inches deep is as wide as the carriageway.

I have complained to the council and filled in the bits on fill that hole but it seems like Salford council just dont care or can't be bothered.

Where are the worst bits for you? my girlfriend also commutes down Bury New Road and we are going to go out and photograph all the worst ones to send the details to the council + local newspapers. If you let us know any bad ones we can be sure to include them!!!

Generally the roads in North Manchester + City centre (ring road) seem much worse than South Manchester, my commute down the A34 and through Cheadle to Wilmslow is made more dangerous by mad bus and 4x4 drivers than potholes.

Anyway as someone said cycle more towards the centre of the lane and with the knowledge of where the worst stetches are you will soon get used to it!!

 

[cheadle hulme]

Down (and back up!) Bury New Road. There are bits of it where I can ride further out but there's some quite narrow bits. And who invented bloomin' bendy-buses! You don't notice them too much in a car! What was wrong with double-deckers?

yep, gotta love those No135's!! If you're coming through Cheetham Hill, it might be easier to cut through Crumpsall than stick to the main road.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Welcome to the fray OTH (if I may be so familiar). On the subject of potholes, we should reserve a deal of tea and sympathy for our Essex members: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/8001310.stm

 

[Goffins]

On some roads I've developed a Rossi'esque bum position so I'm hovering just above the saddle, mainly because at some point I'd like more children.

The roads are generally appauling but it's not until you chance upon a new piece of tarmac and your average speed goes up by 2mph that you realise just how bad 90% of the roads are.

Bloody roads.

 

[eldudino]

Welcome to the boards. Keep safe, ride further out; there's nothing worse than hitting a pothole or uneven road surface at speed and doing a buck-a-roo impression!