Dangerously Sunken Manhole Cover Nearly Kills Cyclist on London Road
Channel: Trevor Tendayi
Date: 09/07/2021

On June 1st 2021 I was involved in a road traffic accident that involved me on my Bianchi and a manhole cover. The defects on this stretch of road are too many to list. The incident took place on the junction between the A4020 Uxbridge Road & B408 Old Oak Common Road towards Acton. The statutory standard of 4cm before a defect is deemed dangerous needs revising because that is too big a defect for a cyclist. 

I hit the manhole cover at low speed but the depth of it meant I was thrown off mike bike face planting on the road. I was left with three broken teeth. Lacerations to the chin nose and forehead. I also had road rash on my right shoulder, elbow and knees. I have multiple ulcers in my mouth and a laceration on my tongue. 

My Bianchi has scuffs paint chips and scratches on the frame which will require extensive work to repair. My sram shifters are badly scuffed along with my rear mech. There is no way of fixing this but to replace the entire sram red axs hrd etap groupset with new components. The mavic comete ust pro rear rim is frayed from the impact and will need replacing. The seat post was pushed down the Frame and is badly scrapped and will need replacing. The favero assioma duo power meter pedals are also scuffed and will need replacing.

Road safety is the cyclists responsibility, however road conditions are the local authorities responsibility. If defects on the roads are not addressed they lead to serious harm or injury to the public/road users. In this case myself! I was seriously injured when this could have been avoided altogether. I do not know how I avoided seriously fatal injury because I fell pretty had and managed to maintain consciousness throughout.