I dont doubt the valdity of your argument, but you do the maths for tje last 3 decade and tell me why our roads are crap but Spain have brilliant roads.
I dont doubt the valdity of your argument, but you do the maths for tje last 3 decade and tell me why our roads are crap but Spain have brilliant roads.
Another thing to think about. As bikers we cause minimal wear to a road. But, and I'm going to generalise here, must of us just ride about not really going anywhere in particular. Every year a lot of use stick our bikes in various ditches, hedges, trucks etc due to over enthusiasm while getting there. The average cost of a motor accident to the economy is £56,000. To the non-biking public it must seem we are just a waste of money and we should be banned and forced to take up gardening! So be careful about pointing the finger at others and saying they are wasting money.
You may be right about the EUpot, and your comment about some bikers is also valid, but where has all the money gone from the cars, trucks and buses using the roads on a daily basis? The vast majority of bike riders dont stuff their pride and joy into othe vehicles, road furniture and ditches, yes we all get tarred with the same brush by those who dont ride, but we already pay for road upkeep and have done for a long time with little work being done anyway.
The
road network is Britain’s most valuable asset (Action For Roads report,
DfT), yet we currently spend less that 1% of the asset value
maintaining it. Britain’s roads are in a woeful condition, and they will
get worse every year unless we act. Every year that the Government
waits before acting adds yet more cost to fixing the problem. And
meanwhile, we, as motorcyclists, are among the most likely to get hurt
by hitting potholes.
Here is what we believe should happen:
2p from the 57.95p that Government takes from every litre of fuel
should go to preventative road maintenance. This guaranteed income of
around £1billion would allow highways authorities to plan maintenance
properly.The Government’s Code of Practice for road maintenance should be
rewritten for 21st century traffic conditions and budget constraints. All road authorities should have a competent Asset Management Plan, forcing them to think long term about road maintenance.
By signing the MCN Save Our Roads Petition you will send out a
message to the Government that it can no longer ignore the danger to
motorcyclists caused by potholes and deteriorating road surfaces. So
please sign and ask your friends to sign too.
Our roads: the facts
- £976 million is the amount currently allocated per
year to highway maintenance yet £12 billion is required to bring
Britain’s roads up to a standard where no immediate repair is necessary
- The Government raises £33 billion through tax on petrol each year yet allocates none of this revenue to road maintenance
- 18% of Britain’s roads are classed as being in poor condition
- 70% of people are dissatisfied with the state of UK roads
HS2 is a white elephant, just another opportunity for rich londoners to buy cheap properties and land in the more picturesque north. How many working people need to get from the north to london in a short time? certainly not everyday.
Oh I know we are stuck with it....not to mention the next leg of Manchester to Leeds.
But, if they re-organised the roads, fixed em and had better traffic management, it would be far more cost effective and efficient.
![Please sign we may just get A pothole fixed (2) - Forums [Biker Match]](/images/backgrounds/strips/8mobileLQ.jpg)
![Please sign we may just get A pothole fixed (2) - Forums [Biker Match]](/images/backgrounds/strips/8desktopLQ.jpg)
