Pothole costs cyclist R3 000

POLOKWANE – A cyclist’s training session ended abruptly when the wheel of his bicycle hit a pothole in Rissik Street last Monday.

The impact threw Bennie Grobler from his bicycle and he nearly landed in front of the oncoming traffic.

“I was wearing my reflective jacket to make sure I was visible to any traffic. Due to the impact, the front wheel of my bicycle was completely buckled. The tyre and inner tube were also damaged. I was only slightly hurt, having sustained a grazed arm and knee,” he said.

According to Grobler, it would cost him around R3 000 to replace the entire wheel.

Arrive Alive Limpopo spokesperson, Ashref Ismail said when submitting a claim for pothole damage, it was important to gather supporting evidence.

“Take details of any witnesses and check if the incident might be recorded on CCTV cameras,” he advised.

He said when taking photos of a pothole, a ruler or other item should be used to give a sense of scale.

He added that if it was not an open and shut case, then under Section 58 of the Public Road Act of 1980, a council could defend itself against claims by stating that it had already taken “reasonable measures” to ensure the safety of its roads.

This was possible to counter if the claimant could prove that the offending pothole was previously reported to them, but wasn’t repaired promptly.

Cycling SA policy coordinator, Chris Peck said the costs of damage from potholes to a bicycle could really add up.

“A good road bike can cost R 7 500 and be written off by hitting a pothole. And of course there’s a much greater risk of personal injury to cyclists who are involved in pothole-related accidents.

“Yearly hundreds of cyclists claim from different areas throughout South Africa on damage to their bicycles and personal injuries, and local municipalities should look into the issue of potholes with great urgency,” Peck said.

Polokwane Municipality spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.