Dangerous man hole cover?
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Discussion

baconsarney

Original Poster:

12,422 posts

190 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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Clipped something on Saturday morning which blew out front left tyre, went back and took photo (see below). I've reported it to the council as in the (maybe unlikely) event a biker hit it the outcome would probably be more than just a burst tyre.

Doesn't look right to me, I'm thinking it shouldn't protrude into the road beyond the kerb stones...

Any thoughts?
(sorry about picture orientation)


mmm-five

12,358 posts

313 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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Yes it sticks out, but it looks like you'd belted the kerb before coming anywhere near the cover.

twister

1,590 posts

265 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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mmm-five said:
Yes it sticks out, but it looks like you'd belted the kerb before coming anywhere near the cover.
Nothing to suggest those marks were left by the OP's car, or if they were that they were made by the front tyre - if the front tyre did indeed only come into contact with the protruding cover, it's not unreasonable to consider the whole car could then have been pulled out of line such that the rear tyre ended up being scrubbed along the kerb to leave that mark...

Short Grain

3,435 posts

249 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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Do you normally drive so close to the kerb OP? 'Belted' does imply you weren't dawdling. Not having a go but does seem very close. Was there a car coming towards you to make you move across?

baconsarney

Original Poster:

12,422 posts

190 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
quotequote all
Short Grain said:
Do you normally drive so close to the kerb OP? 'Belted' does imply you weren't dawdling. Not having a go but does seem very close. Was there a car coming towards you to make you move across?
Speed was around 40mph, two bikers behind, I moved over to be courteous... Obviously moved over a bit too far... but I didn't see the kerbs or cover... I did say clipped, the second poster used the word belted... smile

yellowjack

18,451 posts

195 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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I have no opinion to give on how close the OP was driving to the nearside verge to clip that ironwork. But FYI that sort of thing is the reason why any decent cyclist WON'T be riding in the gutter. It cost the OP a tyre, but if I was to hit that on a bicycle, then I could pay with my life. So next time anyone is tempted to have a rant at a cyclist "riding in the middle of the *lane/road/carriageway*" (delete as appropriate), think back to this thread, and how you'd feel at having to shell out for a brand new tyre, belay that rant and have a little more empathy with other road users.

Short Grain

3,435 posts

249 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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baconsarney said:
Speed was around 40mph, two bikers behind, I moved over to be courteous... Obviously moved over a bit too far... but I didn't see the kerbs or cover... I did say clipped, the second poster used the word belted... smile


Ah, OK. I move over for bikers as well, always smile when it's actually acknowledged by a shake of the leg (daft I know but so what, for some reason it looks funny to me)

Short Grain

3,435 posts

249 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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yellowjack said:
I have no opinion to give on how close the OP was driving to the nearside verge to clip that ironwork. But FYI that sort of thing is the reason why any decent cyclist WON'T be riding in the gutter. It cost the OP a tyre, but if I was to hit that on a bicycle, then I could pay with my life. So next time anyone is tempted to have a rant at a cyclist "riding in the middle of the *lane/road/carriageway*" (delete as appropriate), think back to this thread, and how you'd feel at having to shell out for a brand new tyre, belay that rant and have a little more empathy with other road users.


Hey, I wasn't having a go or a rant. I also give cyclists room and will hang back until I can overtake safely, for them. I cycle and it pisses me off when a driver squeezes past when they could wait for a minute. Once got by the hooks a lorry used to have for tying down a load. (shows how long ago it was, I was 13 or so) Hook got caught up on the shoulder of my coat when the lights changed. I was already stopped at the lights when it pulled alongside me and it dragged me and my bike along for a few yards with me screaming my lungs out!! Ruined the coat and I got a bking from my old man!!

silentbrown

10,854 posts

145 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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baconsarney said:
Doesn't look right to me, I'm thinking it shouldn't protrude into the road beyond the kerb stones...

Any thoughts?
They'll probably tell you the drain cover is in the right place, but the kerb stones are too far back...

Worth a call, but to hit that you're driving closer to the kerbs than the F1 guys manage next to the walls in Singapore. smile

lyonspride

2,978 posts

184 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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silentbrown said:
baconsarney said:
Doesn't look right to me, I'm thinking it shouldn't protrude into the road beyond the kerb stones...

Any thoughts?
They'll probably tell you the drain cover is in the right place, but the kerb stones are too far back...

Worth a call, but to hit that you're driving closer to the kerbs than the F1 guys manage next to the walls in Singapore. smile
They'll probably claim your car pushed the kerb back, exposing the drain cover and causing the damage, THEN they'll send a bill for fixing the road........ And i'm not completely joking.

cb31

1,458 posts

165 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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yellowjack said:
I have no opinion to give on how close the OP was driving to the nearside verge to clip that ironwork. But FYI that sort of thing is the reason why any decent cyclist WON'T be riding in the gutter. It cost the OP a tyre, but if I was to hit that on a bicycle, then I could pay with my life. So next time anyone is tempted to have a rant at a cyclist "riding in the middle of the *lane/road/carriageway*" (delete as appropriate), think back to this thread, and how you'd feel at having to shell out for a brand new tyre, belay that rant and have a little more empathy with other road users.
If you were cycling that close to the kerb to be able to hit that manhole cover your pedal will be hitting the
kerb anyway, so you will be dying twice over.

Sounds like cycling is not really for you. Spoken as a driver and a commuting cyclist.

mygoldfishbowl

4,285 posts

172 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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cb31 said:
If you were cycling that close to the kerb to be able to hit that manhole cover your pedal will be hitting the
kerb anyway, so you will be dying twice over.

Sounds like cycling is not really for you. Spoken as a driver and a commuting cyclist.
You're not the first to notice the above but I chose not to post as I could see no need to start him off, but now you've done it. There'll soon be twenty seven paragraphs of nonsense posted where two sentences would have been more than adequate.

anonymous-user

83 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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I suspect you won't get anywhere trying to claim but feel free to try, best of luck if you do.

I had something similar, had to swerve to avoid oncoming car and ripped the sidewall open on an exposed drain, council not interested in sorting it after reporting it despite making several repairs to the road since.

Tyre was flat in 10 feet if that and a total loss, luckily my car is a bit older and has a spare wheel so swapped over and continued on my way.

baconsarney

Original Poster:

12,422 posts

190 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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gottans said:
I suspect you won't get anywhere trying to claim but feel free to try, best of luck if you do.

I had something similar, had to swerve to avoid oncoming car and ripped the sidewall open on an exposed drain, council not interested in sorting it after reporting it despite making several repairs to the road since.

Tyre was flat in 10 feet if that and a total loss, luckily my car is a bit older and has a spare wheel so swapped over and continued on my way.
Thanks for reply... I'm actually more concerned about the cover and kerbs being sorted rather than claiming money.... bottom line is I need a new front left but obviously that's two new fronts not one hehe Conti sport 6's are just over £300 notes for the two fronts so not the end of the world, plus the F1's on the front are just over six years old so a timely if somewhat costly event... Rears are a tad more expensive but man maths suggest this is a good time for them too....

Been about ten years since my last (and first) front blow out.. also front left, but that just blew in outside lane of DC at about 75-80 mph... road was deserted but did focus the attention for a brief moment biggrin

May have mentioned I have reported it (the state of the kerb/cover) and council have acknowledged and confirmed has been passed to investigation team.... It's definitely a hazard and as we say in our work 'if you see it you own it' smile

Initforthemoney

743 posts

173 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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Interesting.

Those look more like ramps to me, rather than 'normal' kerb stones as the rest of the road doesn't have any.

Could get some serious air at speed on a pedal cycle.

biggrin

Riley Blue

23,205 posts

255 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
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baconsarney said:
Speed was around 40mph, two bikers behind, I moved over to be courteous... Obviously moved over a bit too far... but I didn't see the kerbs or cover... I did say clipped, the second poster used the word belted... smile
Any reason for this? Tall grass, poor light etc. Just curious, that's all.

baconsarney

Original Poster:

12,422 posts

190 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
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Riley Blue said:
Any reason for this? Tall grass, poor light etc. Just curious, that's all.
I was keeping an eye on the car in front and the two bikes which were quite close behind me, and I positioned the car no closer to the edge of the tarmac than I had on many previous times along that stretch of road - we get alot of bikes along that road lots of twisties... it's a local favourite for the two wheel boys (used to be one myself)...

poo at Paul's

14,611 posts

204 months

Wednesday 25th September 2019
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Yes, it sticks out and yes you can and will be able to claim. But depends from who!
Report it on Street doctor site, take photos of the ironwork and menton it caused a puncture. You will likely get a response within a few days on the site.
It may be they say it is the repsonsibilty of someone else, eg water board, or a contractor who has left it in wrong place. But you will get a response.
Depending on what they say, you can then claim online via a claim form, it is quite onerous, they want to know where you were going and why, so daont say back home from the boozer after a skinfull!

babelfish

1,020 posts

236 months

Wednesday 25th September 2019
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baconsarney said:
I was keeping an eye on the car in front and the two bikes which were quite close behind me, and I positioned the car no closer to the edge of the tarmac than I had on many previous times along that stretch of road - we get alot of bikes along that road lots of twisties... it's a local favourite for the two wheel boys (used to be one myself)...
When on my bike I much prefer it if the cars ahead just drive normally in the centre of their lane/carriageway.

Lindun

1,965 posts

91 months

Wednesday 25th September 2019
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Short Grain said:
baconsarney said:
Speed was around 40mph, two bikers behind, I moved over to be courteous... Obviously moved over a bit too far... but I didn't see the kerbs or cover... I did say clipped, the second poster used the word belted... smile


Ah, OK. I move over for bikers as well, always smile when it's actually acknowledged by a shake of the leg (daft I know but so what, for some reason it looks funny to me)
I’ve already suggested the OP should stop moving over and I’ll say the same to you. A motorbike will get past you with ease when they want to, rather than when you decide to help by moving over into the gutter and spraying them with all the crap from the gutter.