When Are They Going To Fill That Pothole?

Road conditions are a huge factor in every motorcyclist's choice for one route to point "Z" versus another. Be it expressway, highway, alternate, county or twisties, if neglect mars the road conditions, we'll likely deviate. However, what about when no one yet knows about surface problems? If past road trips have taught us anything, it's that one ill-considered turn onto damaged tarmac can be far worse after fifteen minutes than five hours of travel along its better maintained equivalent.

Today's most viable solution is an easy-to-use mobile app called City Sourced. They've basically given smartphone users the kind of hazard reporting that many government employees likely fear. In short, City Sourced hands us a piece of software that legally documents and informs local public officials of road hazards, road conditions and defaced property. What's more, it actually works!

Opening the app leads to a menu-collapsed screen with a single button offering to "Create a request." The process has its difficulties because someone must direct the collected information to an appropriate recipient. It would also seem that clarity of information dictates response time.

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I first tested this application when I was living in Chicago. Someone had painted graffiti onto a nearby building and after weeks of it staring back at everyone, we wanted it gone. I loaded City Sourced, took a photo, described the problem and sent it to whichever menu option made the most sense. Because it included gang signs, "Graffiti Busters" showed up the very next morning. Impressive.

Let's step a little more toward our beloved motorbikes, shall we? Chicago winters may be harsh but the city's "Enola Gay" approach to salt dispersal has cornered the market for exponential pavement damage. At spring's start one year, a pothole had expanded so deep and wide that a mentally imbalanced, albeit humorous, neighbor planted a tree in it.

The tree took root, folks.

If you photograph a tree that has pushed up a section of city street and submit it to City Sourced, I bet blackjack City Sourced will show up in under 30 minutes. Decorate it for Christmas and you might cut that time by half.

The point of my punchline is that the team processes all reports, especially those tied to road conditions. Should you find yourself scouting the twisties for prospective rally routes, installing an app such as City Sourced helps you help public servants help you. If Uncle Sam doesn't know, he's far less likely to remedy the situation.

Voice your concerns by making hazardous situations known!

What Android Travel Applications Do You Use?

Smartphones have changed the way the world is turning. How has your riding and/or wrenching benefited? Your input is invited. Leave a comment and/or write an article!