A SINKHOLE on Waterkant Road is causing alarm among cyclists, residents and motorists. The hole, which is in the designated cycling lane, is about one metre deep and had been recently fixed, but after heavy rains began to collapse again and is now covered by three branches to warn other road users.
One resident and avid cyclist, Sean Lucien, was injured two weeks ago after he hit the sinkhole at about 30 kilometres per hour. He ended up going head over heels and damaging his bike and back wheel. He also said several riders have had to take evasive action to avoid hitting the sinkhole.
It has already cost the Kings Park Cycling Club member R20 000 after the frame of his bike suffered a fracture and his carbon wheel was also damaged. The area around the sinkhole near the Japanese Gardens lower gate is also poorly lit said Lucien.
“I’ve now stopped riding this route, I’ve had to plan alternative routes since my accident. The streetlight before the sinkhole is covered by overhanging branches of a tree and when I hit the sinkhole, I was upended and landed on my back. I had a few roasties, but the problem is this sinkhole is going to cause major damage to someone who doesn’t know about it.
“The morning I had the accident, I did not see the depression, the municipality had fixed the sinkhole and I didn’t realise it had begun to collapse again until I hit it. I’m annoyed that the city says it caters for cyclists but has not bothered to properly fix this sinkhole, which could cause a fatal accident. Part of the cycle track on Waterkant Road is poorly maintained and I feel the city should be doing more to promote cycling,” he said.
