When the surface of a utility cover is comprised of large square holes, it’s a serious hazard to cyclists who don’t realize what they’re about to hit.

Bike traffic peaks in summer, when two-wheeled transportation is much easier and more practical for people who can’t or won’t drive to get where they’re going.

With more people riding, we’re getting more complaints about cycling perils, and please keep ’em coming. It’s our job to hold the city accountable for better infrastructure and consideration for the needs of riders.

Our last column, about bollards that were installed to protect cyclists but are also a collision danger produced lively email from readers, a sign that our advocacy for cyclists is appreciated.

Randy Shantz noted that “the city believes serious injury/possible death is an acceptable outcome. I wonder if any sort of risk analysis was conducted. Because I think the cost of an accident will far exceed the costs associated with efforts to reduce/eliminate an accident.”

So we’re staying in the cycling lane today, with a situation that doesn’t take into account the consequences for bike riders.

Peter Sharp emailed to say that “even the toney area of Rosedale is not without its potholes, so the typical city cyclist still needs to watch out.”

He was referring to an unusual utility chamber lid on Crescent Rd., near the intersection at Lamport Ave., describing it as “a maintenance cover that was put back upside-down, with iron ribs sticking up.

“Bad enough that the surrounding pothole is 150 mm. deep, but having the cover put back wrong is almost a deliberate act of disregard for road safety.”

We went there and found an odd cover over a utility chamber right next to a storm drain, with a raised edge and a surface of large square holes that could be deadly for cyclists who don’t recognize the peril until it’s too late.

We weren’t able to figure out if the lid is upside down, as Sharp believes, or if it’s meant to be that way.

The hollow area surrounding it, which he referred to as a pothole, was filled by tossing a few large rocks into it, underscoring the lack of thought about the consequences for cyclists.

STATUS: We’ve asked Toronto Water if it can explain the unusual cover, and maybe do something right away to make it safer for bike traffic. Diala Homaidan, a Toronto Water spokesperson, emailed to say they're looking into it.

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