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Imagine this precedent coming to NZ! – a County Council in the UK has literally stepped up a gear by using GS power to respond to highways defects throughout the county. As motorcycles produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than vans or cars, Worcestershire council has taken delivery of four BMW R1200 GS motorcycles to enable its Highways Liaison Officers to respond quickly whenever a pothole, or any other type of minor highways defect, is reported. The job of the Highways Liaison Officers is to collect reports from the public regarding highways issues, ranging from potholes, overhanging or fallen trees, to misplaced signs, loose kerbs, mud or fuel spills on the roads - basically anything the public deems to be a hazard. The Highways Liaison Officers respond in priority of urgency then order any necessary work to be carried out. On their R1200 GS motorcycles, the Highways Liaison Officers carry maps, a Panasonic 'tough book' computer, first-aid kit, digital camera, tape measure, spray paint, an assortment of tools such as pliers, screwdrivers, hammer mole grips and even a retractable saw for cutting overhanging branches. All of this equipment is carried in the BMW panniers.
One of the first Highways Liaison Officers to trial the bikes, Steve Murch, said: "We look after 4000 kilometres of roads and 3000 kilometres of footways around the county, which involves checking them on an ongoing basis. Trying to get a standard vehicle through a busy town centre to check a possible pothole in rush hour, or trying to find somewhere to safely park to repair a defect in the road surface of a narrow country lane are just some of the problems we face each day. But by shifting from four wheels to two, we can nip in and out of towns and stay out of the way on rural roads. We can then check whether or not a defect is dangerous and take immediate action if it poses a hazard to road users." The Highways Liaison Officers also help out with routine highways maintenance work. Highways Inspectors are also responsible for checking every single road and pavement in Worcestershire on an ongoing basis, so the R1200 GS motorcycles help speed up the whole process. All four Highways Liaison Officers have received in-house rider training, which is ongoing. Experience is vital for this job, so it is fortunate that all the officers describe themselves as 'motorcycle nuts'. Some of them have more than 30 years experience on motorcycles and own numerous bikes that they ride in their spare time. According to Steve Murch, the GS has made a real difference to their work. "All of the guys like the GS - it's comfortable, good in traffic and has a high visibility spec. It's also fun to ride, as we do occasionally go 'off the beaten track' such as down farm tracks. The bikes offer a quicker response in congested areas, allowing us to visit more sites of concern than the previous option of using a 4x4, which often resulted in two inspectors sitting in stationary traffic! We can also park the bikes in places where a four-wheel vehicle would cause an obstruction, such as on a footpath." The initial project was instigated by Worcestershire County Council's Director of Environmental Services, John Hobbs, who is a biker himself and is delighted that the bikes have made such a big difference to response times, according to Steve: "Members of the public have commented on how quickly we have attended to their complaints, as part of our role includes keeping the customer informed of what is going on and improving communication." Needless to say, when they are not working, all of the Highways Liaison Officers ride for pleasure and would like to do so more often!Post count: 2134Post count: 2134Post count: 2134
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