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Post by wardourdrive on May 6, 2006 15:50:32 GMT
Last week (I think) MCN had some pics of poor road surfaces. My local rag, 'The Grantham Journal' yesterday had a great article on the state of local roads and had an email address published to comment. So being the shy retiring SREX ridr that I am I emailed them from the train on the way to London (work). Offering my tale of woe regarding a smash I had on gravel a couple of years ago with my then 7 year old as pillion and how ****ing useless the local council are at compensation etc. The editor seems to have got very excited so a local death on wheels ( as perceived by the local oldies) ME might be in print giving my views. I promis enot to swear too much.
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Post by floog on May 6, 2006 15:57:56 GMT
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Post by ZRX Gremlin on May 6, 2006 16:58:00 GMT
That'll be because there's a world of difference between what a four wheeler calls a bad road and what a biker calls a bad road. Something perhaps merely a little uncomfortable in a car could actually be life threatening to somebody on a bike, particularly for those with less exxperience.
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Post by wardourdrive on May 6, 2006 17:17:20 GMT
What really pissed me right off with the whole thing was there was nothing I could do to prevent the crash, once you slid sideways on gravel you just go. Luckily Ryan was fine, I was stuck under my GSXf for a few mins. Arsehole drivers just swerved round me apart from a really old guy who stopped to help. I report it to the plod who in fairness were pretty good. Called council on the monday, sent them a letter to confirm the call with a single sheet detailing damage to bike and gear and asking for cost of replacement. Not even claiming damages. They sent me a 40 page doc detailing their defence. Mind you the road was repaired pretty quick. I applaud MCN for bringing this type of thing to the public.
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Post by wardourdrive on May 12, 2006 17:30:47 GMT
I ahve to raise this again. My local paper is really fighting this for all road users and I get a nice column of writing complaining about the state of the roads. They have done a 2 page spread on the poor roads and I get the biggest area Maybe I just have a big mouth. But it has hightlighted the whole thing
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Post by floog on May 12, 2006 17:38:57 GMT
I ahve to raise this again. My local paper is really fighting this for all road users and I get a nice column of writing complaining about the state of the roads. They have done a 2 page spread on the poor roads and I get the biggest area Maybe I just have a big mouth. But it has hightlighted the whole thing WARDOURDRIVE.... ZRXUK PEOPLE'S CHAMPIONWell done matey, you have done us and all bikers proud. Is the paper on line? Anyway of getting a transcript posted for us to see? :ten:
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Post by wardourdrive on May 12, 2006 18:06:00 GMT
I don't think it is online but I will seee if I can scan the article
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Post by ZRX Gremlin on May 12, 2006 19:39:33 GMT
:ten: Excellent wardourdrive, would make interesting reading
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Post by wardourdrive on May 13, 2006 15:13:05 GMT
OK here is the letter I sent to the paper, then corrected my spelling and grammar but to be honest it was as I wrote it. Titled by the paper Very tough for motorcyclists
I drive on Grantham’s appalling roads and ride a motorcycle. In 2004 I was unfortunate enough to skid on gravel on Harrowby Lane at 25mph. This resulted in my crashing on the bend and causing over £1000 damage to my Suzuki and protective clothing.
I had my then 7 year old son as a pillion who was completely unhurt. I did everything possible to avoid the incident but once you go you go.
I reported the crash to Grantham Police who were extremely helpful. Spent the afternoon in Grantham A&E getting checked over and once again excellent help and support.
I phoned Lincolnshire County Council on the Monday after the accident which occurred on the Saturday. I wrote a letter to them highlighting what happened, what damage was caused, cost of repair and included the police incident number.
This was a total of 2 pages including the quote for repair. At no point did I mention compensation. All I wanted was my motorcycle repaired.
I received over a 40 page document stating the defence case LCC would take.and ended up paying to repair my motorcycle.
Ironically about a week before I had email LCC complaining about New Beacon Road and they said there was no money to repair the road.
About a week after my accident on Harrowby Lane, they were out repairing the worn out road and removing all gravel from Harrowby Lane.
I travel along New Beacon Road daily and it is safer to ride on the right hand side of the road than the left if heading from Harrowby Lane.,even though this is illegal.
It is not just one road in Grantham but the majority of roads, the potholes in Westgate are just dangerous, there is another huge one at Station Road roundabout.
The repairs are poor at best and wash away as soon as there is any rain.
Simon Pell Wardour Drive
I think I made my point.
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Post by ZRX Gremlin on May 13, 2006 17:21:56 GMT
:agreed:
Let's just hope that somebody takes some notice and does something positive to avoid this kind of thing happening again. This is a nationwide problem and I'm sure that many of us have seen other potential hazards which need seeing to as a matter of urgency.
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Post by wardourdrive on May 13, 2006 17:27:42 GMT
We can only hope, however with the way roads are planned and repaired it will only get more dangerous each year.The iron work that is in the riders line is just bad planning IMHO. Oh well it makes going round corners in the wet interesting if nothing else.
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Post by floog on May 13, 2006 17:58:57 GMT
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Post by BADGER on May 14, 2006 5:58:48 GMT
MCN a while back ran this report on the "Bad Roads" article, and gave out the phone numbers of local councils, for you to ring if you saw or had an off on their roads. The Number i have for London is 0845 305 1234 , not used it yet (dont know why, cause the roads are just bl**dy crap here) . I didnt keep the page with the Numbers on , but iam sure they would give you your local council number if you e-mail them. Apparently if you call the police about a dangerous road, and they look at it and deem it too dangerous, like deep pot holes and broken man-hole covers, they call out the council to repair it.
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