[VW2010]

We are being looted of Rs.19/- (or Rs.35/- for return) for no proper infrastructure.

Is it legal in the first place to collect Toll in this road. I wish the new CM takes some step against this nonsense.

If you are trying to take the Pallavaram By-pass which is pathetic to the core and try to go to Tidel you have to pay 19 rs to use the toll road for may be a KM.

The road is not even finished and is always congested. But we cant blame them for taking us for a ride as we are more than happy to be taken for a ride paying the money they ask.

Sorry if i vented my frustration out.

[Zoomsun]

One thing I am unable to understand on Chennai roads are the barricades on 6-lane roads cutting off virtually 2 lanes. Any particular reason for them to be in the places they are currently?

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by Zoomsun

One thing I am unable to understand on Chennai roads are the barricades on 6-lane roads cutting off virtually 2 lanes. Any particular reason for them to be in the places they are currently?

AFAIK they are placed by the police in accident prone zones to reduce the speed of traffic, or where there will be a police check-post a little ahead. In some other places they are placed after 9.00 PM and removed at 8.00 AM to prevent over speeding, especially by heavy vehicles.

[supremeBaleno]

Originally Posted by VW2010

Bike riders should just stick to either the left lane or the right lane. I hate to see those morons riding at 20KMPH on the right lane close to the median. A gentle squeeze by any car or lorry spells dooms day for these bikers.

Ideally they should be on the left-most lane or atleast on middle lane, especially on roads like TidelPark where speeds are high. When I am riding my bike, I stick to the left-most lane and it terrifies me to just think of being on the other 2 lanes, given the cars/call-taxis/Sumos flying by. But in reality, after you take the right at madhyaKailash onto this road, you can see a biker each in the 3 lanes ambling along at 40kmph or so, with no worry about their lives. Many-a-time I have thought of atleast talking to the female riders on the centre lane after catching up with them at TidelPark signal, to tell them how dangerous it is to ride like that.

I cannot be sure, but I think a good %age of bikers think they are doing the right thing by riding on the centre lane (near median), because the Gemini-LIC stretch of Mount Road has centre lane mandated for 2-wheelers. What they don't know is that, initially the 2-wheeler lane on this stretch was the middle-lane, with buses on the left and cars on the right. Since bikers felt that these 2 categories of heavy-vehicles were crushing them from both sides, making it dangerous to ride, cops changed the bike-lane to where it is now (adjacent to median).

[jeevmenon]

I have had pretty good success with bikers keeping to the left in the city. And would tell to myself if I spotted a mid/right lane rider that this guy is an outsider and more often the registration would confirm it. At times we can be a lil naughty by using them as flag posts in a ski/slalom and squeeze in between the left/right bikers, would love to knock them over just as they do with the ski-poles, just kidding

[supremeBaleno]

Originally Posted by jeevmenon

And would tell to myself if I spotted a mid/right lane rider that this guy is an outsider and more often the registration would confirm it.

You have a point. On my drive to office, I have quite often spotted a KL registered bike (I forget the name, it is the hi-powered bike from Kinetic? with the "catch me if you can" sticker at rear) riding consistently on the lane adjacent to median.

Originally Posted by jeevmenon

At times we can be a lil naughty by using them as flag posts in a ski/slalom and squeeze in between the left/right bikers, would love to knock them over just as they do with the ski-poles, just kidding

Well, finally the only way around 3 bikers hogging each of the 3 lanes is to squeeze between them - because in most cases, they won't even give way inspite of honking.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Trustworthy Tire Shop Needed

I'd like to be able to say I drove home on air tonight, but actually it was more rubber than air. Put the spare on the offending rear tire, as I have to go out tomorrow.

Where should I go for a replacemen/repair? The tire is, err... whatever came as stock on a 4-yr-old Swift VDI <Blush>. I'm just South of Thiruvanmiyur.

The car is due for a service. I'm sure MAS would do the tire as well, but I was thinking of going to Ignite this time, as the car is now out of warranty

[para_7k]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Trustworthy Tire Shop Needed

I'd like to be able to say I drove home on air tonight, but actually it was more rubber than air. Put the spare on the offending rear tire, as I have to go out tomorrow.

Where should I go for a replacemen/repair? The tire is, err... whatever came as stock on a 4-yr-old Swift VDI <Blush>. I'm just South of Thiruvanmiyur.

The car is due for a service. I'm sure MAS would do the tire as well, but I was thinking of going to Ignite this time, as the car is now out of warranty

I recommed you a specialist. Some one who knows exactly what he is doing and a very good person to do business with.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/chenna...e-chennai.html

It may be quite a drive for you up to Greams Road, but worth it.

If you like Ignite, you should like this too.

[YaeJay]

Just a word of caution for those who are new to ECR, the recently added signals do work but is ignored by almost everyone. Watchout once you cross the signal at RTO Thiruvanmiyur. Only the presence of cops seem to make people respect the red. The addition of signals and our motorists not following them just makes it very dangerous.

[Thad E Ginathom]

I find that a surprising number of people are stopping at the signals, at least in the day time. Night is not so good.

When signals for some major junctions are turned off at night, I cannot understand why they are leaving these minor-road signals on.

Originally Posted by para_7k

I recommed you a specialist. Some one who knows exactly what he is doing and a very good person to do business with.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/chenna...e-chennai.html

It may be quite a drive for you up to Greams Road, but worth it.

If you like Ignite, you should like this too.

Yes, it is a pain to travel to Greams Road, but this place looks very professional, and trust in tires is very important. I don't want to waste money on changing a tire that could have been repaired, but I really don't want to be driving on repaired tire that should not have been!

So thanks, we'll probably go there!

[DWind]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Trustworthy Tire Shop Needed

Where should I go for a replacemen/repair? The tire is, err... whatever came as stock on a 4-yr-old Swift VDI <Blush>. I'm just South of Thiruvanmiyur.

If it is just the repair that you are interested in now, would recommend that you do your repairs (puncture + balancing + alignment) at MRF T&S at Thoraipakkam (below Punnu Dhaba, after CTS and just before the bridge when you are coming from the city). They have the latest equipment from Hunters. If you would want to replace tires chose from either of Tyrestore or Lal's for wider range of tyres from different brands.

[YaeJay]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I find that a surprising number of people are stopping at the signals, at least in the day time. Night is not so good.

When signals for some major junctions are turned off at night, I cannot understand why they are leaving these minor-road signals on.

Yes, it is a pain to travel to Greams Road, but this place looks very professional, and trust in tires is very important. I don't want to waste money on changing a tire that could have been repaired, but I really don't want to be driving on repaired tire that should not have been!

So thanks, we'll probably go there!

Did you mean to say, one does get to see folks stopping for the red these days? Everytime you see motorists following the signal, there would be a Sargent with two constables in the background.

ECR is chaos with these new signals once one crosses RTO. Signals usually ignored are the one at Maathus, at Pallavakam Palkalai nagar and Neelankarai. Worst being the one at Maathus. This is one stretch where one sees total disregard for the signals. With the coffers empty, things are bound to change!
How much have you done on those tyres? whats wrong? sidewall crack? I always prefer Lal Enterprises at Lloyds rd.

[Thad E Ginathom]

The tires are since-new, but it it a low-mileage car, just over 18,000. I don't know what is wrong with the tire, but as it was inflated just a few days ago, I changed to the spare, but did so in the night.

I think (there has been rotation) that the same tire used to loose pressure faster than the others earlier. It needs a water bath to establish if it is a puncture and where.

[trumpet]

Hi,
The first post made me smile too - just imagined myself virtually on the road in all those hairy scary situations. I drive from Mogappair to T.Nagar - daily. Each day is a driving lesson. Trust me, I find telling myseld each day - ' the next time, i better watch out for this'.

The problem I feel is utter lack of respect for fellow drivers, ignorance - partly from not knowing the right way to drive, and partly for driving like there's no tomorrow. This is one of the other reasons why I started another new thread in the Street and Travel Experiences called - 'Stricter DL Laws'. I think it's gone to the mods for approval.

The Innova/Safari guys are the worst, looks to me as if they're invincible. And one thing I can't stand is the fact that they turn the high beam on during the day - to show its an emergency. Now tell me people, does your DL ever state such a rule ?, and they make it so obvious that if they are not given the chance, the innova may straight go to heaven!. Not only Innova - almost every one on the roads does this.

Even when you approach a junction, even after you stop - giving way for the others, these 'thorns' just keep moving - making us feel like a bunch of fools.

The Big Picture : Even if heads roll on the roads, unless every single driver understands defensive driving, things won't change. And as sterling james put it "an acceptable bit of aggression is necessary"

[DWind]

@Thad,
I suspect it is due to the worn out valves (mouth) in your tires. The guys at the Fuel stations yank at it whenever we fill air causing shear tear on the valves when they become old. I had this issue one of tire was loosing pressure on its own every 200 kms, when I was on a trip and so had to stop regularly to refill air. Once I reached back, I found no puncture but replaced the valves on the Tire center's recommendation and the issue vanished.