Gautrain to open before SWC

[LancelotSA]

Thanks for playing though but you cannot compare the first world to the third world.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha........... hold on let me finish..... ha ha ha ha ha

Is that not what your kind does ALL the time!?!?!?

 

[SmartKit]

I live in a pretty obscure part of the country and potholes appearing here are quickly fixed. Even it's obscure the roads have all been redone within the last 5 years. But go ahead. Move to Europe and pay 50% of your salary away in tax. I like Africa. It's my speed. I don't like washing dishes and working too hard and obeying the law all that much. Far as I can tell the government have very little to do with my life. And the weather is nice, the beer is cheap and the lifestyle is great. When I want to make a fire I'll make a damn fire. The people are friendly and frankly I love the chaos of all the different cultures etc. Ag man , this is my home. Criticise it with valid points but stop talking *** about it. It's a messed up country, not nearly as bad as most people will have you believe , but messed up in it's own quirky ways none the less. But hey, it's my messed up country. If you don't feel the same them go somewhere else.

Did I ever disagree, but as a taxpayer and a voter I'm pretty sure I get to complain about the failed service delivery I must endure.

 

[SmartKit]

So you think black people should all vote a white party into government ? The point is we didnl't exactly shine last time around. Behind almost every critical post here is somewhat the assumption that if in power whites would do a better job. Sadly history suggest otherwise.

Yup, lets base our choices on race not on how we can most benefit ourselves. Think about it.

 

[Pyro]

One thing about the potholes, this is the bit I can recall from how it was explained to me: In the 'old' days they were fixed using a much 'easier' process. This wasn't very enviromentally friendly though, and due to all the green pressure, the roads are now fixed with a different process. The hole must be thoroughly dry before the you can fix it now, not like the tar that you could just dump in the hole and be done with.

Some of the crews might not be aware/care of the proper usage of the new 'stuff', and/or the unpredictable weather is damaging the patches before they are properly set. This makes fixed potholes reopen quite often. The relatively heavy rains we've had lately wasn't really helping much either.

All for the sake of the environment, eh?

If we're lucky the Gautrain (and BRT if it gets off the ground properly) might actually help reduce potholes slightly if they remove enough cars from the road. Hopefully they make some impact on the taxi mafioso as well.

 

[SmartKit]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha........... hold on let me finish..... ha ha ha ha ha

Is that not what your kind does ALL the time!?!?!?

Lance, 2 blackouts, 5 years. Em... Joburg had that one Tuesday and Wednesday. Think about it before you embarrass yourself further. Kenya is next on our list right?

 

[LancelotSA]

One thing about the potholes, this is the bit I can recall from how it was explained to me: In the 'old' days they were fixed using a much 'easier' process. This wasn't very enviromentally friendly though, and due to all the green pressure, the roads are now fixed with a different process. The hole must be thoroughly dry before the you can fix it now, not like the tar that you could just dump in the hole and be done with.

Some of the crews might not be aware/care of the proper usage of the new 'stuff', and/or the unpredictable weather is damaging the patches before they are properly set. This makes fixed potholes reopen quite often. The relatively heavy rains we've had lately wasn't really helping much either.

All for the sake of the environment, eh?

If we're lucky the Gautrain (and BRT if it gets off the ground properly) might actually help reduce potholes slightly if they remove enough cars from the road. Hopefully they make some impact on the taxi mafioso as well.

Nice post. Thanks for sharing.

 

[DreamKing]

One thing about the potholes, this is the bit I can recall from how it was explained to me: In the 'old' days they were fixed using a much 'easier' process. This wasn't very enviromentally friendly though, and due to all the green pressure, the roads are now fixed with a different process. The hole must be thoroughly dry before the you can fix it now, not like the tar that you could just dump in the hole and be done with.

Some of the crews might not be aware/care of the proper usage of the new 'stuff', and/or the unpredictable weather is damaging the patches before they are properly set. This makes fixed potholes reopen quite often. The relatively heavy rains we've had lately wasn't really helping much either.

All for the sake of the environment, eh?

If we're lucky the Gautrain (and BRT if it gets off the ground properly) might actually help reduce potholes slightly if they remove enough cars from the road. Hopefully they make some impact on the taxi mafioso as well.

may I ask....
1) why we must have "new" method instead of "old" method?
2) who is that "environmentally friendly guy" to abort an effective method? Is that mean we must walk instead of driving because of "environmentally friendly"?
3)"Green pressure"? where they are? I don't see them come out to protest against new coal power station.
4) in average, the pothole last more than a month before it will be fixed, is that you can blame "raining" is a major factor of NOT fixing a pothole? I doubt.
5) who said after Gautrain fully function, we will have less vehicles on the road?

may you answer my questions?

 

[DreamKing]

Nice post. Thanks for sharing.

you said "nice"..........

could you answer my questions?

 

[JohnGalt]

may I ask....
1) why we must have "new" method instead of "old" method?
2) who is that "environmentally friendly guy" to abort an effective method? Is that mean we must walk instead of driving because of "environmentally friendly"?
3)"Green pressure"? where they are? I don't see them come out to protest against new coal power station.
4) in average, the pothole last more than a month before it will be fixed, is that you can blame "raining" is a major factor of NOT fixing a pothole? I doubt.
5) who said after Gautrain fully function, we will have less vehicles on the road?

may you answer my questions?

Someone's never been out of South Africa. So the sky is falling because we have potholes. Tell me a country that doesn't and I might take you seriously.

lol. Does ths guy know he lives in Africa ? Yet gets peed off cause there are potholes ?

Wow ! way to guarantee you will never be happy !

 

[Pyro]

may I ask....
1) why we must have "new" method instead of "old" method?
2) who is that "environmentally friendly guy" to abort an effective method? Is that mean we must walk instead of driving because of "environmentally friendly"?
3)"Green pressure"? where they are? I don't see them come out to protest against new coal power station.
4) in average, the pothole last more than a month before it will be fixed, is that you can blame "raining" is a major factor of NOT fixing a pothole? I doubt.
5) who said after Gautrain fully function, we will have less vehicles on the road?

may you answer my questions?

1) Tar was banned. Coal tar sealant from what I could gather. Google it.
2) It's not the only reason why the roads look like they do, but it's a contributing factor. It can be done effectively, but in SA it's not being done correctly.
3) Seperate subject.
4) As per 2, this isn't the entire problem, only part of the equation. I wasn't writing "potholes for dummies", just giving a bit of interesting information about why potholes reopen.
5) People riding the Gautrain and using the BRT will not all be using heavy cars on our roads, so there should be less stress on the road surface. Yes the busses also use the road, but they (should) limit themselves to specific routes that can be reinforced sufficiently.

For interest, Kwacker from the Think Bike forum knows his stuff, but is sadly also leaving the country for greener pastures and taking his knowledge with him as many other skilled engineers have done This was one of his posts on the subject

The only way to fix a pothole is the right way.

Unfortunately the wet weather is not playing the game at this stage.

a Pothole needs to be cut square and all loose material must be removed. Important is the fact that the pothole now needs to be primed . Why ? .... the primer act as an adhesion agent between the pothole and whatever you put in the hole as a filler.

Previously we had "tar" primes and this primer was more user friendly if you still had some moisture in the pothole. With everyone jumping on the "green" bandwagon these primers were banned and are used no more.

The primes we use nowadays are Bitumen based primes and these primers and moisture dont go hand in hand.

The potholes we now have are saturated with moist and the way they are fixed now is fixing a wrong with a wrong. The pothole as well as base and sub base needs to be dry and then only will the stuff (hot asphalt) they put in the pothole last.

I can go into more detail on how to fix potholes but this was just a short explanation !

 

[SmartKit]

Someone's never been out of South Africa. So the sky is falling because we have potholes. Tell me a country that doesn't and I might take you seriously.

lol. Does ths guy know he lives in Africa ? Yet gets peed off cause there are potholes ?

Wow ! way to guarantee you will never be happy !

Kenya is worse, Britain is better. So it could be worse, in that case? Yay! Lower your standards and you'll never be disappointed, right?

Let's be like he rest of Africa, always a success story. Do you ever listen to yourself?

 

[Ronjay]

Someone's never been out of South Africa. So the sky is falling because we have potholes. Tell me a country that doesn't and I might take you seriously.

lol. Does ths guy know he lives in Africa ? Yet gets peed off cause there are potholes ?

Wow ! way to guarantee you will never be happy !

Come on oke, just because we live in Africa does not mean I have to put up with BS. I pay my taxes I expect decent management from counsel in return. You take the sogy biscuit if you want, I want the nice one that's rapped in cellophane, the one I payed for. Why are people so willing to accept second rate just because it's Africa, like that's an excuse?

 

[DreamKing]

Someone's never been out of South Africa. So the sky is falling because we have potholes. Tell me a country that doesn't and I might take you seriously.

lol. Does ths guy know he lives in Africa ? Yet gets peed off cause there are potholes ?

Wow ! way to guarantee you will never be happy !

Sorry, I really never saw any other country had many potholes on their road beside South Africa. (even China doesn't have so many potholes) May be your "world" is only africa. but my world is bigger than your's

 

[DreamKing]

1) Tar was banned. Coal tar sealant from what I could gather. Google it.

tar was banned? I saw on the road side "tar road", so they are illegal? interesting, I really need to google it and talk to you later.

2) It's not the only reason why the roads look like they do, but it's a contributing factor. It can be done effectively, but in SA it's not being done correctly.

you didn't answer this question, in short, could you just tell me "who" banned the tar road? Government? International Pressure? Green Peace?......

3) Seperate subject.

no I don't think so. If as your claim it is "green pressure", that should be an organisation claimed the responsibilities. What I want to say is I never saw a single green organisation had such power to ban something the anc government wants to do even the dirty coal power station.

4) As per 2, this isn't the entire problem, only part of the equation. I wasn't writing "potholes for dummies", just giving a bit of interesting information about why potholes reopen.

so again, you can't answer the question.

5) People riding the Gautrain and using the BRT will not all be using heavy cars on our roads, so there should be less stress on the road surface. Yes the busses also use the road, but they (should) limit themselves to specific routes that can be reinforced sufficiently.

yes, if many people will take the public transport, but in fact, my question is, do you think people in SA will take that so called public transport?

 

[bwana]

Sorry, I really never saw any other country had many potholes on their road beside South Africa. (even China doesn't have so many potholes) May be your "world" is only africa. but my world is bigger than your's

Are you suggesting that SA is the only country that has a pothole problem?

 

[Mila]

Are you suggesting that SA is the only country that has a pothole problem?

No i think the only country that is doing nothing about the problem. Oh no wait. not the only one but we do not like the idea of going the same road as the countries that did the same as SA.

I pay taxes . If they are not going to use the money for potholes stop taxing me for it.

 

[Ronjay]

No i think the only country that is doing nothing about the problem. Oh no wait. not the only one but we do not like the idea of going the same road as the countries that did the same as SA.

I pay taxes . If they are not going to use the money for potholes stop taxing me for it.

And that goes for all the other things too. John and Lance keep going on about potholes being a trivial and picky subject, and on its own, it probably is. But it's not just potholes, like I said, in my neighborhood there has been a leaking pipe that has not been repaired since last year. How much water was wasted?
It's about failing infrastructure in all sectors that the Municipalities are unable or unwilling to do anything about. I pay taxes to insure that the money is there to do this but the first excuse the municipality give is that they don't have money.

I suspect that if every municipal official stopped buying R500 000 cars and skimming money to pay for there multi million Rand homes, that the money would still be there, wouldn't it? Watch Lance focus back on potholes though, when it is clearly not the only thing we are talking about?

 

[Mila]

And that goes for all the other things too. John and Lance keep going on about potholes being a trivial and picky subject, and on its own, it probably is. But it's not just potholes, like I said, in my neighborhood there has been a leaking pipe that has not been repaired since last year. How much water was wasted?
It's about failing infrastructure in all sectors that the Municipalities are unable or unwilling to do anything about. I pay taxes to insure that the money is there to do this but the first excuse the municipality give is that they don't have money.

I suspect that if every municipal official stopped buying R500 000 cars and skimming money to pay for there multi million Rand homes, that the money would still be there, wouldn't it? Watch Lance focus back on potholes though, when it is clearly not the only thing we are talking about?

+100 0000

 

[DreamKing]

Are you suggesting that SA is the only country that has a pothole problem?

at least not pre 94

edit: many counties will fix their pothole problem within 24 hours as their knowledge, but not SA. Please don't send me some 3rd world countries pictures or 1 or 2 pictures the government never noticed about the problems.

 

[Pyro]

tar was banned? I saw on the road side "tar road", so they are illegal? interesting, I really need to google it and talk to you later.

you didn't answer this question, in short, could you just tell me "who" banned the tar road? Government? International Pressure? Green Peace?......

no I don't think so. If as your claim it is "green pressure", that should be an organisation claimed the responsibilities. What I want to say is I never saw a single green organisation had such power to ban something the anc government wants to do even the dirty coal power station.

so again, you can't answer the question.

yes, if many people will take the public transport, but in fact, my question is, do you think people in SA will take that so called public transport?

Like I said, I just gave some information on why potholes re-open. I'm not here to discuss everything remotely related to potholes. You're seemingly trying to debate political motives around a short discussion on road engineering. That's why I say it's a separate topic.

I know there were some concerns about the gasses that this tar sealant gives off, and it was banned in certain US states. I did not bother researching it further, and I don't know the exact state of its use in South Africa.

If I think the Gautrain (and BRT) might have an impact on the amount of vehicles on our road, I have to think the people would actually make use of them. A few of my colleagues made use of the business express service along a similar route to get to work from Centurion to Braamfontein. The trip from their homes to work became much more predictable, since there was no longer traffic to contend with, and they saved a significant amount of money. While you're on the train, you're also free to do other things...

Personally, I would've still made use of the bus from time to time if it wasn't for the laptop I have to carry with me. I would rather not stand around in the middle of the city waiting for a bus. The BRT stations seem more secure, but they don't travel on the routes I travel. Even single trips were cheaper on the Metrobus than my petrol cost me around 2007, and monthly tickets were significantly cheaper than that.