An ‘optical illusion’ cycle way has been blasted as a £1.5million white elephant by locals – as MailOnline can reveal it’s apparently used by just three riders in a typical hour.
Almost 60 people have been injured since the cycle lane in Keynsham, Somerset, was opened last year, 21 of whom are now suing the local council for compensation.
Construction took nine months and was part of a £1.5million taxpayer-funded upgrade to the high street.
But on Friday afternoon there was barely a cyclist to be seen despite the high street bustling with shoppers. Over almost two hours, just six riders used the path at 1.55pm, 2.16pm, 2,25pm, 2.40pm, 3.06pm and 3.10pm
Retired local resident Martin Crew, 64, said he fears the deceptive kerb could result in tragedy. He said: ‘It’s not a question of if somebody gets seriously hurt or killed, it’s only a question of when.
Almost 60 people have been injured since the cycle lane in Keynsham, Somerset (pictured), was opened last year, 21 of whom are now suing the local council for compensation
But on Friday afternoon there was barely a cyclist to be seen despite the high street bustling with shoppers
‘They have completely ruined the high street with this, shops are closing, older people are afraid to come down here.
‘It’s such a massive waste of taxpayer money. We are told it’s for the best but how can it be if it’s never used.’
Shopper Brie Jones, 23, added: ‘It is stupid. They took years ripping everything up and sure it looks nice and new but people aren’t looking where they are going and getting hurt as a result.
‘You see the odd kid using it on their electric scooter but you hardly ever see cyclists going down it.
‘I think a lot more than 60 people have been hurt, the local Facebook groups are full of people saying they’re injured. I don’t know if they’re looking to get something for money.’
One of those using the cycle lane today was Mike Wright, 84, who said: ‘I use this cycle lane whenever I come into town but it’s never busy.
‘I think there’s fault on both sides, they need to drop the kerb down to street level so people don’t trip but people also need to watch where they are going and if they are unstable on their feet cross at the pedestrian crossing.’
Another shopper, who didn’t want to be named, said: ‘The council should hang their heads in shame over this. They have spent so much money on it, it’s a white elephant and it’s ruined the high street. The best thing they could do is rip it out again but that’ll only mean more money wasted and more disruption to local people so I guess we’re stuck with it.’
Photos this week showed Dave Dawson, 76, becoming the latest victim when he tripped over the kerb, which appears level but is actually a 4inch drop, and cut his hands and knees.
Last year, one pedestrian with arthritis and fibromyalgia reported a fall after mistaking the kerb for a painted line, while another elderly local ended up in A&E.
Shopper Brie Jones, 23, added: ‘It is stupid. They took years ripping everything up and sure it looks nice and new but people aren’t looking where they are going and getting hurt as a result’
One of those using the cycle lane today was Mike Wright, 84, who said: ‘I use this cycle lane whenever I come into town but it’s never busy’
Mr Dawson said: ‘I was walking along the pavement, and it’s sort of like an optical illusion; it looks as if it’s all level.
‘I was walking back towards the church and stepped with my right foot on the edge of the pavement because it looked flat, and I lost my balance and fell down.
‘I cut the palms of my hands and my knees a bit because the surface of the cycle lane is very sharp.
‘When I came back up the road, I was obviously quite conscious of the kerb because I’d fallen over, and lo and behold, I fell over going back as well! Exactly the same.
‘The trouble is that in some places on the high street, the cycle path uses the same principle, but the cycle path is level with the kerb, but as you walk along, it drops down about two inches. I think it’s where they thought people would be crossing.’
Photos this week showed Dave Dawson (pictured), 76, becoming the latest victim when he tripped over the kerb, which appears level but is actually a 4inch drop, and cut his hands and knees.
Mr Dawson said: ‘I was walking along the pavement, and it’s sort of like an optical illusion; it looks as if it’s all level’
Tory councillor Alan Hale said he’s been contacted by people falling over ever since the day the lane was installed.
He said: ‘There can be no other local authority in the country that has created a development that has succeeded in seriously injuring 59 people at least and have done nothing to address the situation.
‘We are elected to make our community safe, not to inflict significant injuries.
‘To make it safe we need the administration and officers to take positive action, not sit on their hands.’
Defending the feature, Lib Dem councillor Mark Roper said the lane is built to national safety standards.
‘Mitigations’ such as painting part of the lane red have ‘had the effect of substantially reducing the number of reported incidents’, he continued.
There were only 2.3 recorded incidents per month on average between January and March this year, Mr Roper added, though a further report has been commissioned to ‘suggest further improvements’.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk