In an unofficial survey, Your Oregon News asked readers whether there are potholes in their neighborhoods and city streets.
This comes after a major pothole along I-205 caused dozens of blowouts after the winter ice storm.
Out of more than 150 responses, only 1 reader said there are no potholes that affect them. About 11% said there are one or a few potholes in there area; while 39% responded there are dozens; and 52% said there are too many to count.
About 8% of readers said the potholes are new this year; 30% said the potholes have been there since last year; and 70% said the potholes have existed for longer than one year.
Readers said the potholes slow traffic, cause dangerous swerving, and damage alignment and tires—as well as making roads treacherous for cyclists and pedestrian travel.
Here’s what Your Oregon News readers have to say about how potholes affect them and their mode of transportation:
Reader: “They don’t.”
Reader: “I hit them with my car frequently and my wheels are now trashed because of them.”
Reader: “I have to add at least an extra 10 minutes to my commute because driving more than 8 mph on certain streets would harm my vehicle. I already need to have an alignment done because of the potholes, and I don't want to make it any worse than it already is.”
Reader: “The potholes are hard on my new tires.”
Reader: “As we drive along SE Holgate street from SE 104th to 122nd, we drive either half in the turning lane or half in the parking lane. These have been here for years.”
Reader: “Difficult to avoid them because they are so prevalent on the road.”
Reader: “I am having to swerve into other lane to avoid hurting my alignment.”
Reader: “Not only the streets but the sidewalks as well, making it extremely difficult to navigate my city as a disabled citizen with no public transportation.”
Reader: “I have to pay more attention in looking out for the holes.”
Reader: “It makes for a very bumpy dangerous ride, especially when people try to swerve to keep from hitting them.”
Reader: “I usually switch to left/center lane to avoid some of them.”
Reader: “Damaging my car suspension.”
Reader: “It is hard on vehicles, and unsafe.”
Reader: “We ride our bikes to Fairmont Blvd. one of the official bike routes is to go from Montgomery rd to Talbot. That segment of Talbot is in very poor condition, with numerous pot holes and irregularities. It makes riding very treacherous.”
Reader: “I drive down the middle of the road! It’s dangerous.”
Reader: “They are worrisome, especially having a newer driver on the road.”
Reader: “I have to navigate around them on a one-lane road.”
Reader: “I still get there, but there is wear on my tires, suspension, and maintenance.”
Reader: “They are very annoying and could cause damage to the tires.”
Reader: “I drive a small car and have to drive slowly and/or swerve around several large potholes on my drive which slows traffic down.”
Reader: “They are dangerous; some are large enough to break an axel.”
Reader: “I have to continuously swerve into th on coming lane or the shoulder to miss them.”
Reader: “A lot of swerving these days.”
Reader: “I have to zig-zag all over the lanes to avoid the huge potholes on 82nd and 122nd.”
Reader: “I have to drive slower than the speed limit and make mental notes to remember all treacherous areas along my commute, anxiety and worry of damaging my vehicle and wondering when it will be fixed.”
Reader: “I swerve around most of them.”
Reader: “It is ridiculous that the holes keep getting larger and worse. I try to avoid them as much as possible often driving on the shoulder to avoid holes.”
Reader: “If we have to drive anywhere there are pot holes down our streets. We have even had to have our car realigned once. It’s really bad going from downtown Molalla towards Safeway.”
Reader: “I'm constantly weaving around them, or traveling slower side streets to avoid them.”
Reader: “They are jarring and probably affect my car.”
Reader: “They are destroying my car.”
Reader: “I veer outside lane lines to avoid them.”
Reader: “They make driving miserable and could break your car.”
Reader: “Canby has roads that are worse than the ones in Mexico.”
Reader: “I often take a longer route to avoid them. I had to do an unusual repair on my car that was mostly due to the potholes.”
Reader: “Potholes Increase risk of damage to my vehicle and increase risk of accidents when I swerve to avoid them.”
Reader: “Potholes cause excessive wear to suspension. I have seen an accident from someone trying to avoid pothole at Marylhurst Drive and 43rd.”
Reader: “No more driving the car, parked it and driving my pickup to navigate all the potholes.”
Reader: “You have to constantly dodge them which makes it very dangerous.”
Reader: “I am afraid that they will hurt my tires and my car. Hitting them is scary.”
Reader: “All of our roads are awful. On two occasions through the years I have popped a tire sure to a pothole on a main road.”
Reader: “I look for alternative routes until they are fixed. It took me complaining that a vehicle lost control and almost hit a pedestrian to get a response about the severe pothole.”
Reader: “It’s noisy every time a car passes by.”
Reader: “Very concerning for the maintenance of my personal vehicle. The insane of potholes that are in Woodburn are beyond a nuisance. It is easily seen that folks will swerve in and out of the lanes to avoid hitting the potholes that can damaging to vehicles if not avoided.”
Reader: “Damaging my wheels and tires. Have had to replace tires twice this past two years thanks to Woodburn.”
Reader: “Damage to wheel alignments. Had to spend extra on damage these last couple years.”
Reader: “I memorize where they are and do my best to avoid them.”
Reader: “I drive a different way where there are less potholes.”
Reader: “I’ve seen accidents caused by them.”
Reader: “I hit them all the time in town or on my way to work.”
Reader: “Makes it hard to drive. I have to take evasive action.”
Reader: “Very difficult to avoid, especially on a busy day. Usually cars have to share that one road to let other drives pass by avoiding the potholes.”
Reader: “I’m paying attention to where the next pothole is instead of traffic.”
Reader: “It’s like playing frogger and unsafe.”
Reader: “You can't dodge them and have to slow down (current speed limit is 45 mph and you can't do that!)”
Reader: “I avoid going through Canby.”
Reader: “Potholes caused me a bent wheel.”
Reader: “Must swerve to miss the deepest holes or certain damage to vehicle and extra challenging when driving after sunset.”
Reader: “I have to move into the other lane of traffic because there is no shoulder to use.”
Reader: “I worry about damage, but have escaped it so far.”
Reader: “I constantly have to try to avoid them—not something you should also be worried about when your driving on the road.”
Reader: “The numerous potholes are damaging my car! The constant pounding of the suspension, wheels, and tires are hard on my vehicle each day I drive across town. Also, even though I attempt to avoid potholes when my car hits them, it is jarring to my body as well. It hurts.”
Reader: “Damages my car and wears down my tires faster, making it an increased cost to me. It also makes the commute longer because I try to zig zag to about the potholes, and I have to stop for cars doing that.”
Reader: “They create dangerous situations where I either have to move to avoid them or damage my vehicle by hitting them.”
Reader: “The potholes make it difficult for bike riding and for safe car travel. In both cases potholes lead to sudden decisions about how to avoid them, which can lead to unsafe maneuvering.”
Reader: “Adds more wear and tear to your car. If you have any aches and or pains they make you tense up, especially when transporting someone. They almost cause accidents because try to go all the way around them, even if that means oncoming lane. In addition, my least favorite, my coffee goes everywhere.”
Reader: “My tire popped because of the potholes in my area being so big.”
Reader: “Hate it!”
Most Popular
Comments / 0