Potholes

[LeeS]

Somebody has already mentioned that its obvious to point out but I've just come back from a ride via Coulsdon , Epsom , and Wallington and there are some serious holes out there. Twice I went down a hole with a thump and had to check my wheels so if anybody is riding on unlit and unfamiliar roads I would keep a very close eye on what is in front of you.

[NickH]

in particular there is a monster hole on the Limpsfield Road coming out from Warlingham towards Titsey Hill and the Botley Hill pub. Sensibly someone has put a bollard next to it, but worth taking extra care.

[jon avery]

Some of the potholes i've seen on my way to work you would need a ladder to get out of!!

[BrendanM]

Do you ever report these potholes to the relevant council department?
The easiest way to get these potholes repaired is to go to the 'fillthathole.org.uk' website and report the location using their online form. The message gets sent to the correct council.

I have reported about thirty potholes. The time taken to repair varies from a few days to one month.
If you tell them that the hole is dangerous they seem to act faster.
I carry a pen and paper on my bike and in the car to make a note of the pothole location.

Its not only bikes that are vulnerable. One day I was cycling on Holly Lane near Banstead and saw a car being attended by a pickup truck. 100 metres further on was another car with punctures on Both kerbside tyres. I think they were both victims of the same pothole which had steadily been getting worse over the previous weeks.

If nobody reports them - they won't get fixed.

[jon avery]

Well put Brendan, i must admit i'm very good about moaning about them, but don't do a lot else, time to pull my finger out and get reporting me tinks

[Amy]

The "Fill That Hole" site is a CTC initiative but motorists use it too!

[Ivor]

Also if you report them directly to the council then sometimes you'll find that they actually welcome your complaint. I did this recently and it turns out they'd been trying to get southern water to come out and fix the holes for months. and with my complaint they could now say "look it's dangerous" fix it themselves and charge southern water for the fix.
I got a new front wheel for my efforts.

[jon avery]

Ivor, out of curiosity, who paid for the wheel, the Council or the Water Board?

[Ivor]

[quote="jon avery"]Ivor, out of curiosity, who paid for the wheel, the Council or the Water Board?