Birmingham's Potholes Register as 'Major Earthquakes' in Bizarre Bike Test
Armed with a rusty bicycle and an iPhone app designed to detect earthquakes, a reporter embarked on a mission to measure the severity of Birmingham's notorious potholes. The unconventional experiment aimed to highlight the city's crumbling road infrastructure through scientific, albeit quirky, means.
The Questionable Setup
With a flat tyre and no pump in sight, the reporter mounted the bike on a Friday afternoon, brushing cobwebs off its handlebars. The goal was simple: ride over some of Birmingham's most dangerous potholes and record the impact using a seismograph app. The city's roads, described as having too many crumbling surfaces, have long been a source of frustration for drivers and cyclists alike, often leading to costly tyre damage and safety concerns.
Pope Street: A 'Very Strong Shock'
First on the list was Pope Street in the Jewellery Quarter, home to a pothole so aggressive it feels like a car is being swallowed into a vortex. The reporter strapped the phone to the handlebars and pedaled quickly toward the crater, which was filled with smaller stones resembling "baby rocks in the womb of a pregnant pothole." Despite a loud thud and rattling metal, the bike stayed upright. The app recorded a 7.7ms² spike, labeling the intensity as a "very strong shock" with "explicit destruction"—equivalent to a major seismic event on the Richter scale.
Constitution Hill: Moderate Earthquake Territory
Next, the test moved to Constitution Hill in Hockley, a busy road connecting the city centre to surrounding areas. Amidst traffic and a curious interruption from a man asking for directions to a wine shop outside an off-licence, the reporter rode into a chain of potholes near a Domino's Pizza branch. The app showed a 5.3ms² reading, firmly placing it in "moderate earthquake" territory, though lasting only a second.
Rotton Park Road: A Bone-Rattling Experience
In Edgbaston, Rotton Park Road was described as having a surface reminiscent of the moon, with rotting potholes deep enough to "eat your dinner out of." After waiting for traffic to clear, the reporter headed straight for what was deemed the biggest pothole yet, expressing concerns about potential injury. The impact was horrendous and bone-rattling, yet it only registered 4.6ms² on the app, categorized as "moderate shaking"—more akin to dropping a phone on your face than a natural disaster.
Practical Takeaways and Council Response
Scientifically, the experiment yielded no useful data, but practically, it underscored that Birmingham's potholes are not just annoying or expensive—they can be seismic enough to show up on an earthquake detector. The reporter argued that if they register on such apps, they deserve urgent fixes. Birmingham City Council responded to recent figures showing minimal road renewals in the 2024/25 financial year. Roads chief Coun Majid Mahmood explained that budget reductions due to PFI funding discussions led to scaled-back maintenance, but £13 million has since been invested in resurfacing for 2025/26. The council has undertaken thousands of repairs and plans significant resurfacing projects, with Birmingham currently in the "amber" category for pothole performance nationally.
