People are continuing to fall at the cycle lane in Keynsham High Street with one recent victim – an architect, questioning whether it was “designed by toddlers” or to deliberately attract tourists to what’s been dubbed the UK’s most dangerous cycle path.
The cycle lane on Keynsham’s High Street
Well over 100 people have fallen and suffered injuries in the contraflow lane, which has differing kerb heights, since it opened in March 2022. In some cases, people have broken bones, sustained head and facial injuries and lost teeth.
In November it was announced that Bath & North East Somerset Council would be introducing more “visual cues” (paint) in the new year to alert people to the hazards of the cycle lane.
The falls began as soon as the lane opened as part of the High Street refurbishment. Signs advising people about the new layout were put up shortly afterwards and the cycle lane was painted red in August 2022, but the falls have continued.
The latest was reported on FixMyStreet on 31st December. The victim wrote: “On Friday 29th December on visiting Keynsham with my wife and grandson by train, I fell badly on the pavement outside Boots Chemist at approximately 1.50pm due to the slight kerb between the cycle lane and the pavement.
“I received first aid in Boots but was advised to go to the Royal United Hospital as I needed stitches to my left knee. This resulted in my son having to collect us from Keynsham, he lives in Frome, take us to the Park and Ride at Bath to collect our car, and then my wife driving me to the RUH where I received nine stitches in my knee as well as cuts to my left elbow and hand having to be cleaned and dressed. I am at the moment incapacitated.”
On Wednesday 27th December a report was posted on FixMyStreet of a trip on a kerb opposite Grounded, which resulted in a badly jarred back, pain, numbness and sciatica.
The victim wrote: “This is the worst cycle path design I have ever seen. No consistency in levels. Some parts flush, some parts raised with no distinct difference in visual colouration to help differentiate between the two, which is an obvious breach of accessible design criteria.
“It is shocking. I can’t believe this is legal. Completely idiotic. I’m an architect and I can only imagine that this was designed by toddlers or with the intention being to attract tourists to the ‘UK’s most dangerous cycle path’.”
Another person posted on Wednesday 20th December the details of their fall that happened on Saturday 9th December at 9.10am after they had walked down the lane from Ashton Way car park to the High Street.
They did not notice the height difference between the pavement and the cycle lane, explaining: “Mis-stepped on this half kerb, fell full-length, half twisting as fell. Main impact on left knee and lower leg. Was unable to get myself, was assisted by three very kind strangers who managed to get me in to Costa.
“One stayed to keep an eye on me whilst others went off to pay my parking (which was all I was trying to achieve at that point). Sustained significant trauma and soft tissue damage left knee and lower leg. Now 11 days on I am still in significant pain with severe swelling to knee and bruising that is still coming out. The kerb needs to be hazard marked, it is lethal.”
In response to all the reports, the council posted that the appropriate team would review the incidents.
As previously reported, disability campaigners have said they warned the council about design and safety problems at the planning stage but were ignored.
The cross-party group of six councillors who represent Keynsham on the council have been campaigning to get the layout changed. One of them, Cllr Alan Hale, who is the council’s member advocate for road safety, has written on a number of occasions to both the council’s chief executive and leader, advising them that should someone die of injuries sustained from a fall, they could face investigation for corporate manslaughter.
It was revealed in November that a consultation is due to take place in the next financial year about pedestrianising the High Street, with a ban on bicycles.
Becky Feather, Reporter
This story originally appeared in The Week In, our sister title.
