So, we're all agreed...the Gov wants to reduce road deaths..
Discussion
Thy ban everything exciting, and they cull speed like tomorrow...all in the name of cutting road deaths.
So why the hell do they still make man-hole covers out of that sh!t that's like riding on glass? Surely there's a plastic non-slip material that can't be very expensive?
Seriously, anyone?
So why the hell do they still make man-hole covers out of that sh!t that's like riding on glass? Surely there's a plastic non-slip material that can't be very expensive?
Seriously, anyone?
Yes they could put a grippy surface material on there, but you should know by now you don't matter as a biker. You're stuck with the standard option mate, look after yourself because no one else will. I'm sure any future 'safety' campaign will be a load of bull resulting in more stealth taxation / further clamping down on speed limits without actually addressing anything that matters. [rant ends]
Steve.
Steve.
Edited by Steve_T on Tuesday 24th July 10:02
Steve_T said:
Yes they could put a grippy surface material on there, but you should know by now you don't matter as a biker. You're stuck with the standard option mate, look after yourself because no one else will. I'm sure any future 'safety' campaign will be a load of bull resulting in more stealth taxation / further clamping down on speed limits without actually addressing anything that matters. [rant ends]
Steve.
Very true.Steve.
Edited by Steve_T on Tuesday 24th July 10:02
I'm still gonna email someone asn ask the question.
Chilli said:
Thy ban everything exciting, and they cull speed like tomorrow...all in the name of cutting road deaths.
So why the hell do they still make man-hole covers out of that sh!t that's like riding on glass? Surely there's a plastic non-slip material that can't be very expensive?
Seriously, anyone?
Because they can’t install a camera by it and fine motorists/motorcyclist.So why the hell do they still make man-hole covers out of that sh!t that's like riding on glass? Surely there's a plastic non-slip material that can't be very expensive?
Seriously, anyone?
Cynical? Me? Never!
Chilli said:
Thy ban everything exciting, and they cull speed like tomorrow...all in the name of cutting road deaths.
So why the hell do they still make man-hole covers out of that sh!t that's like riding on glass? Surely there's a plastic non-slip material that can't be very expensive?
Seriously, anyone?
It's all about saving money, not spending it! There is absolutely no other reason that I can think of....cynical...moi? But seriously...think about it So why the hell do they still make man-hole covers out of that sh!t that's like riding on glass? Surely there's a plastic non-slip material that can't be very expensive?
Seriously, anyone?
Steve_T said:
Yes they could put a grippy surface material on there, but you should know by now you don't matter as a biker. You're stuck with the standard option mate, look after yourself because no one else will. I'm sure any future 'safety' campaign will be a load of bull resulting in more stealth taxation / further clamping down on speed limits without actually addressing anything that matters. [rant ends]
Steve.
seconded Steve.
Edited by Steve_T on Tuesday 24th July 10:02
rsv gone! said:
For that matter, why do they persist in using these evil cable-barriers at the sides of roads? They are lethal to bikers.
And they are still installing them. The A1 end of the new Bedford/Gt Barford bypass has a section.
I think I know why - because it's cheap and they're not thinking about bikers And they are still installing them. The A1 end of the new Bedford/Gt Barford bypass has a section.
I sense a pattern occurring here. black-k1 said:
Chilli said:
Thy ban everything exciting, and they cull speed like tomorrow...all in the name of cutting road deaths.
So why the hell do they still make man-hole covers out of that sh!t that's like riding on glass? Surely there's a plastic non-slip material that can't be very expensive?
Seriously, anyone?
Because they can’t install a camera by it and fine motorists/motorcyclist.So why the hell do they still make man-hole covers out of that sh!t that's like riding on glass? Surely there's a plastic non-slip material that can't be very expensive?
Seriously, anyone?
Cynical? Me? Never!
Just the way the government thinks unfortunately.
The government is not interested in road safety in any way other than making political gain (or money) from it. It is not exactly rocket science to see that the weakest link in any road safety approach is the drivers ability yet there is nothing done to undertake any form of review/assessment of driving ability once someone has passed their test. It would be politically difficult to implement re-testing/assessment of drivers, say, once every ten years, yet it would likely have the biggest impact on the reduction in accidents.
My letter.........shall we open a book re a response??!!
Dear Mr Burns,
I appreciate that you are an extremely busy person, but please bear with me. I am a motorcyclist, and commute out of Chelmsford to the City every day. Now I appreciate that most road users, politicians, in fact most of the general public detest motorcyclists, but we are not all that bad, and we certainly have a right to be there! However, my issue is with man-hole covers on our roads. Have you ever ridden on something with two wheels over one of these such covers in the wet. If not, then trust me, these things are death traps, and appear to have the adhesion properties of wet glass. Now the Government repeatedly informs us that speed kills, dangerous road use kills, and has elevated the consequences of such actions accordingly, with the introduction of financial penalties, obviously. However, the roads are full of these things. I wonder if anyone has given any thought to changing the materials used for these covers. Perhaps a plastic non-slip replacement could be installed? I can't imagine that a plastic alternative would be a costly alternative.
Please give this issue a thought or two. I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts.
Many thanks and best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Nick Matthews.
Dear Mr Burns,
I appreciate that you are an extremely busy person, but please bear with me. I am a motorcyclist, and commute out of Chelmsford to the City every day. Now I appreciate that most road users, politicians, in fact most of the general public detest motorcyclists, but we are not all that bad, and we certainly have a right to be there! However, my issue is with man-hole covers on our roads. Have you ever ridden on something with two wheels over one of these such covers in the wet. If not, then trust me, these things are death traps, and appear to have the adhesion properties of wet glass. Now the Government repeatedly informs us that speed kills, dangerous road use kills, and has elevated the consequences of such actions accordingly, with the introduction of financial penalties, obviously. However, the roads are full of these things. I wonder if anyone has given any thought to changing the materials used for these covers. Perhaps a plastic non-slip replacement could be installed? I can't imagine that a plastic alternative would be a costly alternative.
Please give this issue a thought or two. I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts.
Many thanks and best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Nick Matthews.
Chilli said:
My letter.........shall we open a book re a response??!!
Dear Mr Burns,
I appreciate that you are an extremely busy person, but please bear with me. I am a motorcyclist, and commute out of Chelmsford to the City every day. Now I appreciate that most road users, politicians, in fact most of the general public detest motorcyclists, but we are not all that bad, and we certainly have a right to be there! However, my issue is with man-hole covers on our roads. Have you ever ridden on something with two wheels over one of these such covers in the wet. If not, then trust me, these things are death traps, and appear to have the adhesion properties of wet glass. Now the Government repeatedly informs us that speed kills, dangerous road use kills, and has elevated the consequences of such actions accordingly, with the introduction of financial penalties, obviously. However, the roads are full of these things. I wonder if anyone has given any thought to changing the materials used for these covers. Perhaps a plastic non-slip replacement could be installed? I can't imagine that a plastic alternative would be a costly alternative.
Please give this issue a thought or two. I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts.
Many thanks and best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Nick Matthews.
Trucks run over man hole covers - plastic would not be as durable, perhaps it would not even be capable of replacing the metal castings they use now. I don't think you'll win this one, if you get a response at all and I'll say it again, you know it's slippery so why ride over it? Dear Mr Burns,
I appreciate that you are an extremely busy person, but please bear with me. I am a motorcyclist, and commute out of Chelmsford to the City every day. Now I appreciate that most road users, politicians, in fact most of the general public detest motorcyclists, but we are not all that bad, and we certainly have a right to be there! However, my issue is with man-hole covers on our roads. Have you ever ridden on something with two wheels over one of these such covers in the wet. If not, then trust me, these things are death traps, and appear to have the adhesion properties of wet glass. Now the Government repeatedly informs us that speed kills, dangerous road use kills, and has elevated the consequences of such actions accordingly, with the introduction of financial penalties, obviously. However, the roads are full of these things. I wonder if anyone has given any thought to changing the materials used for these covers. Perhaps a plastic non-slip replacement could be installed? I can't imagine that a plastic alternative would be a costly alternative.
Please give this issue a thought or two. I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts.
Many thanks and best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Nick Matthews.
Manhole covers are made from ductile iron are heavy and robust for a reason.
Find some plastic that can take 400N/mm2
I find trying to avoid riding over them is an easier option. Its just another challenge when riding on the road. Every day you get back home safely from a ride is equivelent to 1st place in any GP
Find some plastic that can take 400N/mm2
I find trying to avoid riding over them is an easier option. Its just another challenge when riding on the road. Every day you get back home safely from a ride is equivelent to 1st place in any GP
y2blade said:
has anyone crashed on a wet manhole cover?
I doubt if anyone has crashed 'on' one, but maybe 'because' of one 
Seriously, It can't be that hard to:
1. Design a man hole cover that is covered in tarmac the same as the rest of the road (My drive has a manhole cvoer with little bricks in it to match the rest of the drive). Thus making the road safer and more comfortable for everyone.
2. If the government can't be arsed to help make the roads safer I will join Chilli in any campagn to the local gov to raise awareness. Not just for the sake of bikers, but for all our comfort and safety.
3. I agree that at present I look out for (and try to avoid) man hole covers. But then I ride little compared to someone who commutes. It would be nice to have 1 less thing to think/worry about though.
Edited by virgil on Tuesday 24th July 13:36
To be honest, what annoys me more than man hole covers is the general state of repair of many of our roads. We pay for them. Directly and indirectly, and if it were any other product we were all receiving, I'm sure none of us would stand for the quality of the product given to us (TVR owners included!)
But as it's a road, we all seem to accept that they can be good and they can be very bad...but this should not be the case. We pay a fortune in direct road tax and indirect fuel tax, so no one can tell me they don't have the money for it! Smooth well maintained roads (suitable for all road users)should be the norm, not a luxury.
But as it's a road, we all seem to accept that they can be good and they can be very bad...but this should not be the case. We pay a fortune in direct road tax and indirect fuel tax, so no one can tell me they don't have the money for it! Smooth well maintained roads (suitable for all road users)should be the norm, not a luxury.
Chilli said:
Exactly. Make the covers with a recess, then fill that up with tarmac. BINGO!
I believe these have been tried and found to be not up to scratch. The issue is that the tarmac does not adhere to the metal very well and over time starts to break up and you end up with a manhole cover immitating a pothole. I have seen some with 'shell grip' on but these suffer from the same problem.This is an issue and like all things there is undoubtedly a solution out there, however as with everything nowadays it will be dictated by cost and as we all know our councils do not like spending money, particularly on something sensible and useful.
In response to the 'you're better off avoiding them' very true but not always possible. Easier on an often ridden road/route but not so easy when the road is unknown even when being careful and bloody difficult in the dark.
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