But how about talking about a topic that affects everybody in the city? How about talking about life, death, jobs and profit? Would that be an interesting story?
Well, then maybe the media needs to do a better job of covering the sorry state of public roads in and around Cincinnati. Sorry, WCPO, reminding us that potholes can damage tires doesn't quite fit the bill.
How many of us have endured YEARS of dodging tire-eating potholes, only to later bounce over a lousy patch job done to fix the lousy patch job from last year? How many drivers have winced as they crossed the steel plates of the latest underground utility project only to later rattle over the genuinely awful attempts at repairing the streetcuts?
How many of us have swerved to dodge unlevel manhole covers that have sunk deeper into the pavement than most seasonal potholes? How many of us have bashed into such large buckles across entire lanes of traffic that they should be painted white like speed humps? How many of us have rumbled across stretches of melted asphalt so wavy and bumpy that Olympic skiiers could use them to practice mogul jumping?
Given the reality of our streets, I was not at all surprised that a recent report from our nation's engineering experts say our roads in in terrible shape. In both 2009 and 2013, the ASCE gave Ohio a C- grade in their infrastructure report card. While the grade places Ohio ahead of the national average, it still translates to 2,462 structurally deficient bridges and approximately 42% of its roadways in “poor” or “mediocre” quality.
I say that grade is generous. It's June. The time for spring repairs of winter pot
My question: what can be done about it? How do we round up the vast-yet-unspoken annoyance of the driving public in a way that will make politicians pay attention? I'm open to suggestions. Please share your thoughts!