New policy on pothole repairs 'will increase the risk of cyclist deaths', government warned
Coroner's report into death of elderly cyclist in Bury calls for change in policy
A new policy on pothole repairs "will increase the risk of future deaths, in particular to cyclists", the Department for Transport has been warned.
In a report into the death of elderly cyclist Roger Hamer, who passed away in April 2016, one month following falling off his bike after hitting a pothole which was described as the "size of a dinner plate", the coroner criticised the new policy which will see potholes of less than 40mm not automatically repaired by highway authorities.
Peter Sigee, assistant coroner for Greater Manchester North, wrote to transport secretary Chris Grayling with his concerns, saying that the death of Mr Hamer could have been prevented had the potholes on Bury New Road, where the crash took place, had been repaired, and that Grayling, together with the CEO of Bury Council, should take action to prevent future deaths.
>>> Cyclists' guide to dealing with potholes
Mr Sigee's chief concerns centred around a new procedure of highway management currently being adopted, which will mean that potholes larger than 40mm will be investigated by an inspector and considered for repair, whereas under the previous procedure potholes of this size would have been automatically repaired.
While acknowledging that there will be a level of discretion in the new policy, the coroner also raised concerns about the inconsistent application of the procedure, and said that in general the new procedure would "increase the risk of future deaths, in particular to cyclists."
>>> Cobbles, potholes, and rough roads can cause nerve damage for cyclists, study finds
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Roger Hamer died last year, a month after falling off his bike on Bury New Road, which local residents said was notorious for the number of potholes, with a number having asked the council to carry out repairs prior to Mr Hamer's crash.
At the inquest into Mr Hamer's death, Bury Council contested residents’ claims that the pothole which Mr Hamer hit was 8cm wide, saying that the pothole in question was only 2cm deep, and that only potholes deeper than 4cm were "actionable".
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
Ask the experts: How to prepare for a bikepacking trip
Jon Sharples, head coach at TrainSharp, and ultra-cyclist Jasmijn Muller offer their tips on going long
By Stephen Shrubsall Published
-
Zwift goes back to its roots to relaunch its first-ever world
Jarvis Island was only ever available in beta before making way for Watopia
By James Shrubsall Published