I cross a major bridge on my route into town; over the winter the fill material between the spans has worked loose and dissappeared...leaving a nice 10" gap at one span, over at the side where I must ride. I emailed the local DOT a week or so about it...got the normal "we'll get to it when we get to it" responce. Yesterday the jolt was so bad I had to check my rear wheel for damage after I crossed the bridge (it was okay). So on my ride home I stopped near the bridge, looked around, found a nice square peice of discarded asphalt to suit my needs, and plugged the gap right where my travel path is. Felt pro-active about it!

Edit: for all you Garner to Raeigh, N.C. commuters, it's the vandora springs road bridge over U.S. 70 near Garner rd. The gap/hole is on the northbound side. I know there are a bunch of you, I just never see you, haha.

It'll probably break off after a few cars run over it.

No, it's out of the travel lane, just right of the lane line where I ride. I may break it after a few trips, I'll deal with that when it happens.

If you know where the hazard is, you could always do the unthinkable: slow down? Nah, what was I thinking. Bring some plywood with you next time to span the gap.

I ride over that same bridge occasionally; not commuting, but during my period Tour(s) de Garner.

You've probably performed the only NCDOT stimulus package work we'll see out our way!

The gap has worsened/deepened since I last rode over it, previously I could ride it at speed with minor concern. So I wasn't prepared to slow yesterday, and now I've temporarily fixed it w/ the asphalt. Hopefully DOT will tend to it soon w/ a proper fix. Next concern is the two short curved sections of the wooden boardwalks on the greenway leg of my commute - they are like ice when wet = crash. Maybe I will fix them with some gription stuff.

You'll "fix" them with some "gription stuff"? Man, better be sure you're not making matters worse before you go throwing that stuff down. You want to perform "fixes" on your own deck or driveway, that's your business, but when you start "fixing" public infrastructure, better know the effects of what you're doing.

Well I said it in jest, if I do anything it will be to shoot Parks & Rec. an email about it. I know from personal experience that those sections of boardwalk would not be made any more dangerous by putting down some grip strips. The way they are now require walking the bike through the curves. Both would require about 15 -20 feet of treatment each.

sounds like a good location for a sweet jump! ;-)

McGyver would have used that chunk of asphalt plus some duck tape and toothpaste to blow up the bridge!

This is what bunny hopping is all about!

I just want to get to work on time, without ******** up my wheels, or sliding out on ice-wood.
Plus I'm riding my track bike, haven't learned bunny hopping with it yet.

You commute on a track?

sure! I modified it with bullhorns and proper road tires but otherwise it's pure track. 1976 fuji track bike.
When I want to feel and go faster I have an '06 raleigh rush hour pro set up the same way. I also have an '83 bianchi pista w/ track drops, not as comfy on the road but it's good for shorter trips.

asphalt gap filler worked great this morning, I barely felt a bump. It was cracked though, I will replace when necessary.

Very nice looking restoration, but can I respectfully suggest that you put the brake on the front wheel? The physics are that, as you brake, the weight moves towards the front wheel, so braking power on the front wheel is made more efficient by the extra weight on it. As the weight transfers from the back, it gets lighter and the rear wheel therefore becomes more likely to skid.

Yea I realize I need a front brake. Setup is as it came to me from the original owner. Front fork is not drilled. A clamp on kierin brake is $$. I brake ~95% w/ my legs and use the rear brake when necessary, I'm used to it. My other bikes have front brakes and when I get up the $ I will get a front clamp on for the fuji.

You may get a better result / reaction from DOT or whomever if you call / email and complain that your
kid fell off of their bike due to this gap. I'd tell em' it happened both coming and going on your bike ride.
We had similar luck with the MUP-to-road crossing gaps here. They fixed them after there were complaints
about the gaps causing problems with kid's riding over them.

I have found that the Magic Words for my local DOT is to say ...." I have noticed cyclists having to dart out into traffic to avoid it"....

Those very words got a crew with a sledgehammer out to remove a stuck on piece of homemade concrete curve from the bikelane within 24 hours. I was actually the cyclist, but I reported it from the perspective of a driver who almost hit a cyclist.

Unfortunately, If you sound like a driver who almost hit a cyclist and not a cyclist who almost got hit, you are much more likely to get good results, IME.