Locals slam 'Britain's worst cycle lane' claiming it is still dangerous

Release time：2024-05-22 10:27:07 Source：Stellar Standpoint news portal

Locals have today slammed 'Britain's worst cycle lane' claiming it is still dangerous - despite the council claiming it was fixed.

Officials said it had undertaken works overnight to make the 'optical illusion' lane 'clearer to pedestrians and prevent further trips and falls'.

The infamous pathway in Keynsham near Bristol has seen over 100 people injured after tripping over a curb.

But despite a local authority saying the work done on Thursday evening would end the issue locals today said it was still a hazard.

The cycle lane in Keynsham before (left) and after (right) the markings were added in an attempt to fix the issue

A man tripping and falling over the 'dangerous' curb before the new markings were added 

A cyclist riding down the path before it had the markings added to it that were supposed to fix the issues

A cyclist riding down the path more recently with the new dashed markings added on the right 

At around 7pm Thursday council contractors repainted a solid white line making it a dashed white line - in the hope it would be clearer for pedestrians.

Locals believe the changes has made no difference to the trip risk.

Nigel Hammond, 67, said: 'It's a disaster. The amount of people falling over. I've had a friend injured.

'He was walking backwards and fell over the kerb, slicing his arm with his keys.

'The black lines ain't going to stop [people tripping], it's just not going to happen.

'They have fixed nothing so I don't know why they claim it will stop the injuries to people.

'They had one where a pensioner fell over, she broke both her eye sockets.

'She was elderly, and I really mean elderly, but the council said she can't make a claim.'

Nigel Hammond, 67, does not believe that the new markings will prevent locals from tripping and being injured

Alan Flyng, 72, said he has nearly tripped over the curb twice and said the added lines don't help

Alan Flyng, 72, added: 'They've put these black markings on the white?

'I never noticed. I get caught out with this, you've got two levels.

'You go down the first kerb and think you're there, then there's another one. I've nearly tripped over twice.

'All they've done is they hide half the white line there, so you've completely gone onto the road then, as opposed to the white one that showed the edge.

'But you can't tell them anything because they won't do anything about it anyway, you get ignored.

'People have been talking about this for ages, but nothing has changed.

'They came out and put the black line that doesn't help; I could have done that.

'It always costs the taxpayer money, they don't worry about what costs the taxpayer money, as long as they get one less letter in or one less person will fall over.

'I've never seen a bicycle actually in this lane. It's a one way bicycle lane, so you'd have to go on the road to go the other way.

'I've never seen a bicycle come along here.'

An aerial view of the 'Britain's worst cycle lane' that has caused over 100 injuries to pedestrians

Esme Brooks, 76, said she has not tripped herself on the curb but has seen others trip including two of her friends

Esme Brooks, 76, said: 'I don't think the council painting the black lines will fix the problem.

'It probably helps in the summer, like now while it's light and people are alert but when it's cold and wet you've got umbrellas, I don't think it will fix the problem.

'You see people, they walk along, move out into the cycle lane to pass people on the path and you can quite easily put your ankle over.

'I think, from the beginning, this has been a waste of time and money.

'It's one way but cyclists and electric wheelchairs come the wrong way up it. It defeats the object of having it - they need to pedestrianise the area.' 

'I've not tripped myself but I have seen people fall - including once who needed an ambulance. Two of my friends have tripped too.'

Paul Roper, the council's cabinet member for economic and cultural sustainable development, said on Wednesday: 'This mitigation should make the change in levels clearer to pedestrians and prevent further trips and falls.'

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