Skye Roads.

[Hillhound]

Just back from a short trip on the Scottish West Coast. Some cracking roads and scenery in Kintyre, Oban and Lochaber.
Then I got to Skye! The weather was great, the scenery stunning, but the roads were the worst I have ever seen in the UK or Ireland. Almost anything off the A87 was covered with potholes. Some really deep and large enough to take out a car or bike wheel, maybe even put a bike off the road.
I love biking in Scotland and have done for many years, however it looks like the Highland councils are letting the roads get away from them.
Definitely impacted on my trip, and I would be wary of recommending Skye for biking given the terrible state of the roads.
For any of you living on the island, I absolutely love it and can imagine your frustration with the condition of the roads.
The road into Carbost at Talisker Distillery was like a bomb site. Not a good look for tourists!
Interested to hear anyone else’s experiences of the roads on Skye.

 

[Wapping]

I have recently returned from riding some of the very rural roads in north-eastern France. Without exception (and no matter how rural) they are all in much better condition than even many of the main roads, let alone the Skye ones. The UK is becoming a third world road network and a public disgrace. Forget about pouring billions into the HS2 vanity project, to knock 20 minutes off the journey to Manchester from London and spend it more wisely on better infrastructure for everyone, beyond the roads. It really is not rocket science.

 

[Posh Pete]

I have recently returned from riding some of the very rural roads in north-eastern France. Without exception (and no matter how rural) they are all in much better condition than even many of the main roads, let alone the Skye ones. The UK is becoming a third world road network and a public disgrace. Forget about pouring billions into the HS2 vanity project, to knock 20 minutes off the journey to Manchester from London and spend it more wisely on better infrastructure for everyone, beyond the roads. It really is not rocket science.

10 days in Germany. Not a single pot hole. I'm sure there must be some, somewhere but not between the Dutch border and north eastern Bavaria.

Lots of work going on to sort/expand autobahns. That's called investment in infrastructure apparently.

 

[Monsieur]

Was watching a BBC programme yesterday about active suspension in cars. If this becomes a feature on all cars then there’ll be no need to fill in potholes as this technology just glides over holes in the road.

 

[timeandtide]

I have recently returned from riding some of the very rural roads in north-eastern France. Without exception (and no matter how rural) they are all in much better condition than even many of the main roads, let alone the Skye ones. The UK is becoming a third world road network and a public disgrace. Forget about pouring billions into the HS2 vanity project, to knock 20 minutes off the journey to Manchester from London and spend it more wisely on better infrastructure for everyone, beyond the roads. It really is not rocket science.

Absolutely agree with you Richard!

 

[barny]

10 days in Germany. Not a single pot hole. I'm sure there must be some, somewhere but not between the Dutch border and north eastern Bavaria.

Lots of work going on to sort/expand autobahns. That's called investment in infrastructure apparently.

I wonder if they do this Infrastructure thing on the Water system, Power distribution, Health Provisions? I don't think it will happen here it seem too much to hope for.

 

[shedracer]

Was watching a BBC programme yesterday about active suspension in cars. If this becomes a feature on all cars then there’ll be no need to fill in potholes as this technology just glides over holes in the road.

It won’t stop you damaging tyres and wheels though and no amount of wizardry will keep a motorcycle upright if you drive through a large puddle in the road on a corner if it’s masking a huge hole. It‘s not just pot holes in the UK thats the problem, its the amount of standing water that does drain off, which is a hazard and also causes the tarmac to delaminate and break up.

 

[Posh Pete]

I wonder if they do this Infrastructure thing on the Water system, Power distribution, Health Provisions? I don't think it will happen here it seem too much to hope for.

I think we know the answer to that! It's dangerous to make direct comparisons as Germany is very different in so many ways but one of those ways is the fact that the CDU (German Conservatives) is just as committed to capitalism as our lot BUT retains a sense of social solidarity. So spending cash on stuff that does not make immediate dividends for shareholders is not seen as mad socialist excess.

However, I digress!