Manhole cover.

[MattHirst]

Right fellas, heres how it is.

I was riding back home from leeds yesterday (after riding from northumberland and running out of petrol ) and got to the outskirts of dewsbury (i think the road is the a653) and on the crest of the hill my front wheel suddenly cranks over to 1 side and almost flicks me off...luckily i wasn't going to quick and i managed to get my feet down and hold the bike.

Anyway, i pull up and have a look at the road and theres a manhole cover, with only 1 half of a cover (its a rectangle with what looks like 2 triangle shaped covers) well one of these triangles missing.

What should i do? I aren't injured or anything but should i inform the council (or is it transco or something?). I don't want anything out of it, i just don't want other unaware bikers (not bothered about car drivers ) getting their wheel stick in it and going over the handle bars.

The old man said i should go back with my camera, take some pictures and then send a letter and copies of the pictures to the council. More of a report to the council than a complaint.

Is this the right route to go?

Thanks
Matt

[Drew]

If you did want something from it, go and get pictures before you inform them.

As you say you dont want anything from it, just inform them about it. Tell them you want compo for your 'damaged bike', but say you have not got pics yet, they will be there within 20 minutes and have it fixed

[MattHirst]

Hmmm....i do remember my stepmother coming off her speedfight 50 (it was only a uni commuter ) on a manhole cover and transco give her £1000 in compo and paid for all bike and helmet/jacket damage.

I wonder if i could claim for mental distress or something stupid haha.

Nah, i just want to make sure no one gets hurt by riding over it.

[hellkat]

You should definitely point it out.

Car drivers may or may not notice it for months, but bike riders (including pedal cyclists) and/or pedestrians/children could come a cropper.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[wristjob]

the covers usually display who owns em.
its becoming more common that people steal these heavy iron lids for scrap value.
if there is no name on the lid then report it to the water the gas the electric and to bt,then at least you can get some people out to sort it.
council dont own any of the road holes

[doggone]

My dad caught a water board metal cover which was in the verge with the landrover tyre - this had been scrubbed by other vehicles so many times that the corner was razor sharp - it actually made a two inch cut in out tyre - needing a replacement at cost of about £100.

We tried to claim of Yorkshire water but they were adamant it was not their fault as "the vehicle should not have been on the verge".
Furthermore they intended inspecting the cover at first opportunity to check if our vehicle had damaged it in any way, in which case they would be claiming off us!

A few days later the offending cover was replaced

[strag]

Obviously you should report it! Call the local highways agency now! Personally I would let the police know immediately and get it recorded, then if some poor sod comes a cropper they have recourse to claim.
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carbon bling

[vfr800]

A few weeks back i narowly missed going down a hole where a manhole cover was missing.

I immediately stopped and phoned the police, they said they were aware of it as some one had called to report it and said it would be dangerous to motorcycles!

Another good reason to avoid manhole covers, not cos they're slippy but cos they might not be there!
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don't take it easy 'ride it like you stole it'

[syl]

We've got a number we can call for that sort of thing. Got a note through the letterbox about it the other day, first I'd heard.

101 - when it's not serious enough to call 999. Available now in:

Cardiff
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
Leicester City and Rutland
Northumberland and Tyne and Wear
Sheffield

[oldpink]

manhole covers are the work of the devil
I've lost the front end twice going over wet covers in the past
once I caught it in time the other I wiped out now I always try to ride around them if possible
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I have become comfortably numb

Theory & hazard 24-may 2016, CBT 8th June 2016, MOD 1 2nd Aug 2016 Mod 2 2nd-Nov 2016 - Current bike CBR 600 RR

[MattHirst]

Well i went back up today with my camera and it had magically been replaced.

It seems like someone else had already reported it and it had been sorted.

But again, i was riding to leeds bradford airport (well just down the road...to the carboot, i know i'm sad!) and i saw another without a cover on it but as i was coming back some weirdo in a fluro jacket was putting a new one on

[vfr800]

I would call a fucking great hole in the road that could swallow the front end of my bike an emergency, it was 999 for me with the upmost of concern in mind.

Blue lights for the police to get there or blue lights for an ambulance to a bikers rescue, it's easy to choose.
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don't take it easy 'ride it like you stole it'