'Optical illusion' cycle lane deemed 'too dangerous' after 100 people injured

11 January 2024 , 11:51

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The council say they are working on improving the cycle lane (Image: SWNS)

A cycle lane branded ‘the most dangerous in Britain’ due to its ‘optical illusion’ design has now injured around 100 people. Photos of the lane shows how it appears to be flat at a glance - but actually passes over an elevated pedestrian crossing, causing shoppers on Keynsham High Street near Bristol to repeatedly miss the kerb and trip over it.

Campaigners say the cycle lane is still too dangerous, with an estimated 100 people injured since it was first installed by Bath and North East Somerset Council in March 2022. Reported injuries have included fractures, lost teeth, and significant bruising.

Lib Dem councillor Paul Roper told the BBC it took the injuries "extremely seriously" and was working on improving the lane. The councillor added that measures already introduced had led to a fall in reported incidents but more work was being done.

He said: "In the coming weeks, we will be removing the solid white line at the edge of the cycle lane, and replacing it with a broken white line and adding double yellow lines on the carriageway to create additional visual signals that there is a kerb. This is subject to the completion of the road safety audit and to the weather conditions being adequate to allow for the installation to take place."

Shoppers repeatedly miss the kerb and trip over it (SWNS)

But opposition Conservitive councillor Alan Hale argued more needed to be done. He said: "It's an utter pantomime. You'd think with the best part of 100 casualties over two years, the council would actually be doing something positive and firm. People will not stop falling and will not stop injuring themselves.

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A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat group said the majority of incidents happened within the first six months of the scheme going in and the numbers were dropping. In August 2022, the lane had to be repainted red after 46 injuries were reported on the stretch of road in the first six months.

Locals campaigning for it to be scrapped have recalled their experiences of coming to harm there. One person said: "I fell into the road last year, cutting my knee, twisting my ankle and ripping my jeans. The council were not very helpful or even asked if I was ok. They did suggest that I use the crossing next time."

Another added: "I tripped but manage to get my balance. Don’t know whether it was the kerb or cycle lane." One local said "That’s just the ones that have been reported.. it’s a daily occurrence pretty much. 'Have seen some pretty nasty falls having worked in one of the shops on the High street."

Another person told how they had been pushing a wheelchair when they nearly fell. They said: "You just can’t judge the step especially if you are distracted a really poor design."

Zahra Khaliq