"If the system was better I'd report more potholes", says chair of Bike Worcester
RAC report record number of pothole related breakdowns this year - but cyclists are also being affected
The system for reporting potholes in Worcester "isn't up to scratch" according to a local cycling group.
The chair of Bike Worcester, a multi-organisational group who promote better cycling infrastructure in the city, says he'd "probably report more potholes" if the system was better.
It comes as the RAC have revealed a record rise in the number of pothole related breakdowns in the first quarter of this year.
They said many roads "resemble the surface of the moon'' after receiving 4,694 call-outs for vehicles likely damaged by potholes between January and March.
That was a three-fold increase on the total of 1,461 during the final three months of last year, representing the breakdown rescue firm's largest rise between quarters.
But it's not just car owners who are affected by them.
Dan Brothwell, chair of Bike Worcester, said:
"You flag up the problem on an online portal and then hear nothing back.
"I think it's something which could be improved. There could be more visibility of what you've reported and what the status of it is and know what other issues people have reported too.
"I've only reported a couple because I don't think the system's very good. If the system was better I'd probably report more".
RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes described many roads as being in a "desperate state'', which indicates that some councils are "simply patching up potholes rather than fixing them properly''.
The disparity between cars and cyclists seems to be obvious when addressing the issue of potholes as well.
Dan continued:
"The latest Government guidance when it comes to cycle routes talks about it "being comfortable" and there are some road surfaces in the city which could do with some improvements.
"I think sometimes potholes aren't fixed because they're not deemed to be bad enough. You may not notice some of the potholes in a car but on bike you definitely do.
"You get quite a few in the corridor of the road where cyclists are positioned and so what might not be considered a sufficient pothole tor require a repair because it doesn't affect a car does affect a bike".
Mr Lyes also reiterated calls to give local authorities ring-fenced funds over a five-year period for longer-term road maintenance, urging the Government and councils to commit to doing something differently''.
A spokesman for the Local Government Association said:
"Despite the pandemic, councils have been working hard to repair our roads, fixing a pothole every 19 seconds as well as supporting an increase in other infrastructure through temporary road measures.
"Councils want to continue to improve our roads and deliver the infrastructure improvements that allow people to move around in less carbon-intensive and more sustainable ways.''