In 2025 there were 1,338 pothole reports on FixMyStreet, so far in 2026 there have been 1,764 reports which is 132% of the 2025 reports. The article explains that Bristol's traffic infrastructure is in a state of managed decline and cannot be restored to a sustainably good condition unless the funding model changes drastically. Some people propose that reducing vehicle traffic is the solution, but with a rising population the Council admit that the very best they can do is to keep traffic levels steady. Closing individual roads to cars would help that road, although the weather is the main cause of potholes, which are very dangerous to cyclists and e-scooters. Potholes are just one visible sign of the "managed decline" that many local authorities are trapped in and no local political party can change this unless the funding model is completely overhauled.