The Worst Roads in America

[Cat Man]

I swear, the roads in Missouri are going down hill faster than a falling meteor. Highway 36, between Macon and Monroe are going to kill a rider someday just because of how rough they are. You cannot ride your bike at the speed limit at all. And being two lane at that, you have to watch out for the four wheelers as they are trying to keep all four on the pavement. And to top it all off, they (DOT) have the other two lanes ready for traffic, but they are not opening them up.

I saw a billboard the other day, it said "Missouri roads, yo0ur mechanics best friend". I belieive it.

 

[Hoomgar]

Here in PA we hold that record now for the past 25 years or more in most of the trade rags for the trucking industry. I think it is improving finally though :?

 

[scotty]

All of us at the jojo rally were so impressed with the quality of the Misouri roads. Could it be a county problem rather than a statewide thing???

 

[mark]

Nebraska roads around me arn't that great either. Big clumps of gumbo from tractors, straw, no shoulders, narrow bridges and nice patch of gravel on every corner. But the patch of gravel doesn't matter because after 10 miles of straight when you do get to a corner there's a stop sign.

 

[RotaryRodder]

Ive had fairly good luck with missouri roads. My friend that lives in PA would agree with the roads being really crappy there.

 

[dogmotor]

NYC's got quite a few scary patches

 

[scotty]

NYC's got quite a few scary patches

potholes you mean

 

[earlfor]

Thats because Nebraska has more cattle than people. The narrow bridges are for stampede control. Only one cow can cross a bridge at a time.

Earl

Nebraska roads around me arn't that great either. Big clumps of gumbo from tractors, straw, no shoulders, narrow bridges and nice patch of gravel on every corner. But the patch of gravel doesn't matter because after 10 miles of straight when you do get to a corner there's a stop sign.

 

[scotty]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[mrquadriga]

Gotta put a bid in for Northern Minnesota. Some of the waterfilled potholes are going to be stocked with Trout this spring. -Pete '80 1100L

 

[Evil Hobbit]

The roads here in Cincinnati are pretty good. with one major exception that would be St Rt 562 (Norwood lateral). It looks like an Iraqi military airstrip on the day after bombing began. the potholes caused my the cold and snow plows finally get fixed in late Septemer just in time for them to get ripped up again. And of course I need to use this everyday.

 

[ricardo]

I realize riding a motorcycle there is just insane but after traveling the country by cage Detroit (city) gets my vote for the absolute worst roads

 

[Jethro]

Roads get really nice here around December when they fill in with snow and ice.

 

[tconroy]

the farther south you goin mo. the better the roads are.Down by branson they are all fairly new because of the traffic.i live in K.C. and you have to be careful where you go because the roads are bad.

 

[Cajun Cycler]

Come to Louisiana to hone your skills then when you get back to Missouri you will think the roads are heaven.

 

[duaneage]

PA always blames the cold weather but upstate NY gets worse winters and I think their roads are better. Having ridden a bicycle across BOTH states I think I am a good judge of road conditions.
if you think their bad on a GS, try it on a bike with skinny tires and no shocks.

 

[earlfor]

Well, if you would hold the speed down to 55 or less on that Schwinn, the bumps wouldnt be so bad.

Earl

PA always blames the cold weather but upstate NY gets worse winters and I think their roads are better. Having ridden a bicycle across BOTH states I think I am a good judge of road conditions.
if you think their bad on a GS, try it on a bike with skinny tires and no shocks.

 

[duaneage]

Highest speed attained on a bicycle in New york State:
59 mph between Watkins Glen and Tyrone

Highest speed attained in Pennsylvania:

61 on route 16 going into Mcconnellsburg PA

Highest speed EVER attained on a bike:

72 MPH on a road in Hong Kong that ends up at the new airport there.

I do wear a helmet but at those speeds it doesn't help much.[-o<

 

[wolfie]

As per Concrete Producer magazine, that I read now and again when I'm at the plant and not on the road, Kansas City, Mo has the worst roads of any city. I once heard on the radio that Louisiana has the worst roads of any state. I went to New Orleans for my honeymoon 5 yrs ago, and I found the roads to be far better than in Kansas City. To be fair, most of the roads more than 100 miles away from KC seem to be pretty good. According to the article in Concrete Producer, it would take $11 billion more dollars per year nation wide to mainain the roads at their current poor condition. It would take $26 billion more dollars anually to make an improvment on our roads.
If you think it sucks riding a motorcycle on our roads, try driving a loaded concrete truck weighing in at 72,000 lbs, with a high center of gravity, fluid load. There is a stretch of 69 highway north of town that is so narrow that one day when driving, I was driving with my right wheels on my white line, and an oncoming 18 wheeler was driving on his white line, and our mirrors made contact! There is no shoulder on this road and the edge of the road is dintegrating. Add to that the knowledge that if I allow my bridge axle (the one on the very rear of a concrete truck that comes down when you are carrying a heavy load) to go off the edge, it will push the truck into a high speed sideways skid ... Scary
Everyone likes to gripe about the roads, but noone wants to pay the tax increase necesary to improve or even maintain our roads.

 

[duaneage]

Everyone likes to gripe about the roads, but noone wants to pay the tax increase necesary to improve or even maintain our roads.

Most people would not mind paying the bill, it is just that most people have an impression that the money is wasted or stolen away. But that is a subject for another day.