Yes, all the potholes in our city streets that have gradually worsened over time are annoying, ugly, and sometimes dangerous.

City work crews are doing the best they can to fill them in and smooth the way for our safe passage through our roadways, but the job is a big one, and we are left to contend with and negotiate our way through the proverbial minefield of deterioration and decay.

According to the city’s Department of Public Works, potholes form when water seeps into existing cracks in pavement and into the underlying soil, weakening the road surface. Freezing temperatures cause the water to expand, and the weight of traffic breaks apart the asphalt.

The situation is particularly vexing for bicycle users, who must dodge the craters continuously, sometimes at their peril as they are forced to veer into vehicular traffic in the main areas of our streets.

The interplay between pedal-powered and motor-driven vehicles is often tenuous and contentious. Some are more patient than others on each side of the street.

Some residents complain that many cyclists ride recklessly and disregard the rules of the road. Likewise, there are many cyclists who feel they are putting their safety at risk when sharing the roads with drivers who themselves don’t play by the rules.

Obviously, we should all learn to play, ride, and live together responsibly. There is enough room on the road for all of us, especially when dedicated bike lanes have been installed.

The common enemy – those nasty potholes – should be the only casualties of our collective wrath. Not one another.