Slippery man hole covers - has anyone tried a petition?

**Milts** · 12th May 2011, 19:46

Originally Posted by jaffaonajappa

One Tip. Dont ride over them - they can be slippery and/or bumpy.

This.

Only person I know who came off on one has also totaled several other scooters in perfectly favourable conditions.

Ride to the conditions, road is not the track, they're only really in residential areas and at 40km/h (not a bad speed if it's pissing down) they don't really present a problem.

I'm told they are positioned where they are in Wellington because due to hills, uncoordinated roads etc it's not really viable to have them anywhere else. No idea if this is true or not though.

**Oakie** · 12th May 2011, 20:57

Hmmm. I never thought I'd be comfortable reading a thread that started with the words 'slippery man hole'. Guess I was wrong.

**jaffaonajappa** · 12th May 2011, 21:50

Originally Posted by Oakie

Hmmm. I never thought I'd be comfortable reading a thread that started with the words 'slippery man hole'. Guess I was wrong.

Hahahah. Hope you werent disapointed.

**skinman** · 12th May 2011, 22:19

in answer to a previous query: I believe that for street races they weld the manholes down then come back later & unweld them, exactly how I dont know not being a welder.
I have heard that a race car crossing a manhole if its unsecured will cause it to fly up with the shock. I probably would too if a race car hit me.

**skinman** · 12th May 2011, 22:22

Oh yea and have any of you been down Alfriston Rd, I think thats where they keep the leftover manholes, drivers wonder what the hell youre doing weaving between them, impossible to miss them all in a car (i've tried)

**jaffaonajappa** · 12th May 2011, 22:24

Originally Posted by skinman

I have heard that a race car crossing a manhole if its unsecured will cause it to fly up with the shock. I probably would too if a race car hit me.

Yeah - i vaguely recall something about air pressure causing them to come lose - ground hugging cars going 200kph - seems about right.
so...perhaps less to do with slip / grip after all? For cars that is....

**ducatilover** · 12th May 2011, 22:40

Slippery manhole covers....

Being a Honda owner I may have taken that the wrong way

**t6at** · 12th May 2011, 22:56

Originally Posted by nmalcolm

Hey guys,

I'm really annoyed at the amount of steel man hole covers in Wellington (and maybe New Zealand - you tell me!).

Now that it's getting into wet and windy winter, the roads are getting really slippery. I have had a friend fall off her scooter coming up Salamanca Rd in the wet on one of those man hole covers, and I've had a few heart-in-my-throat moments. Especially when they're on corners and you're leaning.

Before I get on a high horse and start a petition (Wellington City Council ePetition) I was wondering if this has already been tried and what the result was?

I saw bikers in the UK have made GetAGripUK.org, they have some really good information on solutions.

I can whip up a Facebook page, or even a website, if there's a big enough group, but I think the latter might be overkill.

I just made a collaborative Google Map to show slippery spots in NZ:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...ea35e3d5558515.
You can put any problem areas of your own on there if you want. Feel free to add horror stories in the descriptions :P The more stories we have, the more compelling case we can make

Any interest, tips, hints, lawyers, council-people out there?

Back to work next week after 2 months on ACC after an (off) round the lakes Rotorua..Built up area blind corner and 2 large manhole covers side by side in my ride line.Went back to said area to get pics for insurance purposes.In an area of about 15 meters we counted 12 manhole covers(the smaller square ones).Fortunately a woman riding with us worked at Fulton & Hogan...She was going to return to work to discuss the problem.Hopefully something good came out of that..Havent been speaking to her of late but will make inquiries.
My bike went under an on coming car so was a right off..Figure it better than me..Thanks the cosmic bikie God for saving my ass..

**onearmedbandit** · 12th May 2011, 23:25

Originally Posted by avgas

Yep - if your that concerned about it, go fix it yourself.
Complaining to others to fix a problem you have is a bit limp don't you think?

I just really don't get this post. While I avoid the covers myself, the op is a motorcyclist with what he sees, and others agree, is a legitimate issue. So he asks if anyone has taken any action previously, or if anyone else would feel like forming a campaign regarding them.

And that's the best you can come up with? I thought that's what representative groups where about.

**jaffaonajappa** · 12th May 2011, 23:35

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

I just really don't get this post. While I avoid the covers myself, the op is a motorcyclist with what he sees, and others agree, is a legitimate issue. So he asks if anyone has taken any action previously, or if anyone else would feel like forming a campaign regarding them.

And that's the best you can come up with? I thought that's what representative groups where about.

Good point, and quite Valid IMO. I was feeling a little guilty for shooting down the idea so early. But...pick the fights you can win, Or select the fights that give the best reward.

If a petition starts up for Wellington to fund Wellingtons man-hole cover fixes - Im happy signing.

**Banditbandit** · 13th May 2011, 15:53

Originally Posted by neels

Pop through Timaru some time, they have steel manhole covers that are slippery and also sit a couple of inches below the road surface for extra entertainment

DANNERVIRKE .. exactly the opposite - raised manhole covers ..

**PrincessBandit** · 13th May 2011, 16:52

Originally Posted by skinman

Oh yea and have any of you been down Alfriston Rd, I think thats where they keep the leftover manholes, drivers wonder what the hell youre doing weaving between them, impossible to miss them all in a car (i've tried)

And then you get to the tar snakes which breed all across Mahia Road. One joy after another! (Snakes and manholes eeewwww, taking a decidedly dodgy tangent here; my apologies)

**Oakie** · 13th May 2011, 17:49

Originally Posted by Banditbandit

DANNERVIRKE .. exactly the opposite - raised manhole covers ..

Raised manhole covers?! LOL. Come to Christurch and you'll see some sitting on mountains nearly a metre above the road.

**cheshirecat** · 13th May 2011, 18:11

Will post links when I find them but the UK AA has a special pot hole filling high grip substance and there are some new grippy MH covers coming out over there (non steel and nick proof).

They don't really bother me these days especially after London DRing, well down the list after old ladies, prams and tourists. Mind you wet muddy cobble stones with tram lines can prove interesting.