Paddy
Veteran Member
Hi all,
Those of you who live on private/shared roads, how is it working? I live on a 1.3 mile long private road and we are at the end. Basically, as the large tract was divided, we all received an easement to access our property. The easement is a generous 50' wide swath. It is my understanding like most rural settings, we all own to the middle of the road.
It is a gravel one lane road. We have no home owners association, just chip in each year to have it graded each year. Some years, I fill chuck holes and we have been able to skip the annual grading. During big snows I grade for snow.
Last year, we had one of the folks up front build a speed bump. From what I have heard, it's few supporters, a few keep their opinion neutral and many opposers. The word is; the speed bumps are to slow people down because of the kids. The real reason is the dust. The guy who built it has a 6' tall stockade fence.
I have removed the bump with my tractor with the help of one of the opposers. It gets built back up with hours. (note I live 1 mile tractor ride away, 2 mi round trip) Another opposer was a bit more aggressive, just drives around the speed bump, through the builders yard. Getting on the gas a bit while doing it. Other folks who claim to be neutral, have found lumber at the edge of the road with many nails pointing up!
To me this is all very ridiculous. Last weekend, they saw the fellow drive around the speed bump, into their yard and they called the county sheriff. The sheriff drove the the fellow's house to address the yard job. He explain to the sheriff that if this guy keeps building speed bumps, he just going to use the smooth part of the easement, his yard.
It would make sense that we organize a formal HOA for the road. Elect a president and vote on such issues. We all informally agreed to drive 20 mph a few years back. But clearly the speed bump is large enough to require to slow to about 5mph
As a good neighbor, I try to drive slower when it's dusty. But if it's mid day and wet I do drive faster. Other neighbors do have a tendency to drive pretty fast. He happens to be one of the first ones out there.
Those of you who live on private/shared roads, how is it working? I live on a 1.3 mile long private road and we are at the end. Basically, as the large tract was divided, we all received an easement to access our property. The easement is a generous 50' wide swath. It is my understanding like most rural settings, we all own to the middle of the road.
It is a gravel one lane road. We have no home owners association, just chip in each year to have it graded each year. Some years, I fill chuck holes and we have been able to skip the annual grading. During big snows I grade for snow.
Last year, we had one of the folks up front build a speed bump. From what I have heard, it's few supporters, a few keep their opinion neutral and many opposers. The word is; the speed bumps are to slow people down because of the kids. The real reason is the dust. The guy who built it has a 6' tall stockade fence.
I have removed the bump with my tractor with the help of one of the opposers. It gets built back up with hours. (note I live 1 mile tractor ride away, 2 mi round trip) Another opposer was a bit more aggressive, just drives around the speed bump, through the builders yard. Getting on the gas a bit while doing it. Other folks who claim to be neutral, have found lumber at the edge of the road with many nails pointing up!
To me this is all very ridiculous. Last weekend, they saw the fellow drive around the speed bump, into their yard and they called the county sheriff. The sheriff drove the the fellow's house to address the yard job. He explain to the sheriff that if this guy keeps building speed bumps, he just going to use the smooth part of the easement, his yard.
It would make sense that we organize a formal HOA for the road. Elect a president and vote on such issues. We all informally agreed to drive 20 mph a few years back. But clearly the speed bump is large enough to require to slow to about 5mph
As a good neighbor, I try to drive slower when it's dusty. But if it's mid day and wet I do drive faster. Other neighbors do have a tendency to drive pretty fast. He happens to be one of the first ones out there.
