Pothole

From ibikeu Wiki

Potholes are a very common problem for the road cyclist. Usually the result of fatigue on the road as a result of heavy cars, trucks, and busses. Potholes are formed where cracks in the road intersect to create loose pieces of asphalt that are chipped away by vehicles and errosion.

Usually they are only a few inches deep, but landing in one at the wrong angle or with too much force, can cause tire or wheel damage, especially for thin road tires, and potentially even injury from falling. When possible it is best to avoid them, or if you can, even bunny hop over if it is too late to swerve. They are an extremely common problem, so it is always important to keep your eyes on the road ahead to visualize your path to avoid the worst ones.

The Politics of Potholes

Potholes are a bane for motorists and cyclists alike, however they pose more threat to cyclists, who are typically riding on much thinner tires at higher psi, and no suspension unless they are riding a mountain bike. Currently road repair in the U.S. is a public issue funded by taxes, but as cyclists have noted, the taxation for road repairs is unbalanced. Although cyclists do not pay gas taxes for road works, everyone pays the same general taxes for infrastructure, including roadways. However cyclists contribute almost no damage to road ways, while cars, and especially heavy trucks and busses cause significant amounts of damage to roads, damage that effects cyclists the hardest.

Unless the weight of the vehicles using roads is considered in the taxation for public road works, then cyclists will continue to pay more than their share of the burden for road infrastructure.