EDITORIAL
TRAVERSE :
Paved With Potholes
A recent multiday ride around the Australian state of Victoria revealed something that surprised … potholes !
Forget the risk of contracting illness , or the danger of a rogue animal entering your path , a pothole can be vehicle destroying and worse for those in control of the vehicle .
Just two years ago it was estimated that Victorian roads were plagued with over 150,000 vehicle damaging potholes , some suggest that this has grown to well over 250,000 . We witnessed many of these in just 1,500 kilometres of roadways .
In one long stretch , a section of newly paved road was peppered with holes , many requiring a detour around them . A sign warned of “ rough surface ahead ”, many holes had yellow paint around them … no attempt had been made to repair them . How many millions of dollars thrown into a hole ?
Further on , a main road was so scared by holes deep enough to ding a wheel that taking to the bushland beside the road would ’ ve
been a safer option , but we couldn ’ t due to the ‘ cheese cutter ’ type wire barriers on the roadside . A ludicrous situation .
Why is this happening ? All of us pay some sort of road fees , whether through vehicle registration or fuel taxes , and it seems that this is not a phenomenon limited to Victoria or even Australia . Recent reports have shown that in the United Kingdom things have become so bad that people have resorted to painted male genitalia around the holes in an attempt to force authorities to repair the roads . In the United States people have filled the holes with plants and flowers , some even growing ‘ grass ’.
Despite the danger , it does add a level of excitement to an adventure ride so , what ’ s the best ( worst ) pothole you ’ ve seen ? Send us your pics – traverse @ traverse-magazine . com
Leigh
TRAVERSE 5