6.2 Preventative Maintenance

A standard basic maintenance programme will include the following:

• Mechanical sweeping every 2 months
• Cutting back overgrowth twice a year (outside bird nesting period)
• Clearing gullies twice a year

To achieve this, all cycle routes should be examined on a priority basis between late August and mid-October for evidence of ponding, blockages, debris build up, or structural deterioration. Greater attention is required for off-road cycle tracks as they do not benefit from the passive cleaning associated with general carriageways.

Reporting Facility

Often, faults and defects can be detected by road users, especially cyclists and bus drivers, in advance of a scheduled inspection. A reporting mechanism is required so that such faults and defects can be reported as soon as they arise. This may take the form of a website, specific telephone or email address etc.

Fault Logging

The results of all examinations and reports should be logged and prioritised as appropriate.

Preventative programmes have three components:

6.2.2.1 Inspection

Damaged facilities must be identified

Scheduled inspections should record the following:

• Design flaws – lips, poor transitions and poor quality reinstatements;
• Surface defects – longitudinal and transverse cracks, holes or general surface break-up;
• Debris – grit, glass and leaves;
• Height restrictions – where trees or signage reduce the clear height below 2.5m;
• Width reductions – encroaching vegetation, poorly placed signage and road works;
• Signs and Lines –signs are damage or removed, or line markings have deteriorated and become less visible;
• Ironmongery –gullies are sunken or proud, or lids have become loose;
• Drainage – evidence of ponding on the cycle facility or blocked drains causing flooding and splashing on the carriageway.

Joint Inspection with Cyclists

Local Authorities should consider joint inspections with cyclists who are familiar with the routes and who can point out flaws that may not be immediately obvious, relevant or urgent to the inspector.

6.2.2.2 Logging

All defects should be logged centrally. Ideally logging systems should be geo-referenced (map based) so as to facilitate the location of the defect, when it was reported, when it should be fixed and when it has been fixed.

6.2.2.3 Risk Management and Resource Allocation

General road maintenance should not obstruct cycle facilities

Defects such as potholes, uneven surfaces and defects pose a much greater risk to cyclists than they do to other road users. The same is true of broken glass, debris, wet leaves, standing water or ponding. These should be urgently attended to within the maintenance programme.

The nature and potential hazard of the reported defects from inspections and users should be prioritised on the basis of risk and the potential cost of non-feasance.

Normal maintenance works arising from inspection is generally funded from current expenditure. Maintenance coupled with Quality of Service improvements may in some cases be appropriately classified as capital expenditure.

Resources should not be wasted maintaining areas that are due to be dug up under other capital or maintenance works such as surface restoration, utilities installations etc