A badly injured cyclist who crashed after hitting a pothole highlighted the neglected state of our roads.

The accident happened last Sunday when Ben Horan, 37, hit a pothole outside S and S Motors, Alexandra Road in Castletown on his way home from work as a firefighter at Ronaldsway airport.

He was familiar with the route, but the pothole was in shadow and traffic meant he couldn’t swerve to avoid it.

’I saw the pothole, but when there’s traffic, you can’t do anything,’ he said.

’I went over the handlebars and ended up on the white lines in the middle of the road.’

There has been hundreds of pounds’ damage to his bike and cycling gear plus visits to the chiropractor and doctor; he’s submitting an insurance claim to the Department of Infrastructure.

The former police officer - who worked on a safety for cyclists strategy before leaving the force - is very aware it could have been much worse.

’I could have been hit head on. I could have been another death on the roads.’

He added: ’I had lights flashing front and back. I did everything I could to to make myself safe, but you can’t do anything about potholes.

’It’s just ridiculous when the government is trying to promote a cycle to work scheme, it should not promote things when it cannot make the roads safe.’

If it can happen to him it could happen to one of the children cycling on that road to school, he pointed out. ’It does not bear thinking about,’ he said.

A photograph of his badly scraped right arm was posted on Twitter by the town commissioners with the comment: ’Disappointing to learn of injury to a cyclist on Alexandra Road (strategic route) over the weekend due to a temporary fix to highway defect and no follow up.

’Surely time for @iominfra and @IOMGovernment to invest in maintenance of key highways to support active travel strategy.’

The authority has been complaining about the state of the town’s roads for many years, said commissioners’ clerk Hugo Mackenzie. He said the situation was ’very frustrating’.

Town resident Mike Lace has been in regular contact with MHK Graham Cregeen about the roads.

He wrote: ’Our main concern at present is the state of the roads in both Castletown and Ballasalla.

’I have never seen so many potholes and apart from these being dangerous, the damage they cause to vehicles must be considerable.

’The government have all these grandiose schemes in the pipeline such as the Douglas promenade and the Ballasalla bypass and cannot look after the basics.

He asked: ’Is the government not carrying out this work because they intend to pass the upkeep of the roads into the hands of the local authorities?

’This cost will then fall on the local ratepayers.’

He added: ’I hear another big red herring this morning on the news about the TT Course and the Southern Hundred Course getting priority when it is the state of both the local roads and the motor cycle courses that equally should be actioned. Our visiting motorcyclists should be able to drive safely on all roads without fear of potholes.

’I have driven a motor bike and there is nothing worse than hitting a pothole.’

He highlighted another issue and wrote: ’Elements of the road safety promotion taking place at present (are) a farce until the road surfaces are sorted out.

’More time is spent by motorists, motor cycle and cyclists looking out for pot holes than driving safely.’

Cyclist and Cyclefest organiser Rob Holden agreed government must take a holistic approach.

He naturally supports initiatives encouraging healthy living such as walking or cycling to work - unhealthy lifestyles are estimated to cost the island £16m a year - but said the infrastructure must be fit for purpose.

But it’s a big task, he warned.

’Austerity cuts over years has led to it being a massive job.

’They’ll have to start from scratch ... it’s a big job that has been put off for some time.’

However he is pleased with recent dialogue with government. ’Talking to government departments I’m encouraged, there seems to be political will to change.

’I do not think it can happen fast, and it will take lots and lots of money.’

â?¢ Have you seen any potholes that urgently need repairing? Send your photos to [email protected]