The number of people falling in Keynsham’s cycle lane has ‘dramatically reduced’ since it was painted red, councillors have been told, but some say falls are still happening.
The red-painted cycle lane on Keynsham High Street | Photo © John Wimperis
An unusually high number of people tripped and fell on the high street cycle lane when it opened in the spring.
One person who tripped on the day it opened said: “There is some kind of optical illusion. There is a pale coloured kerb and a pale coloured line that look exactly the same.”
The cycle lane was painted red in August after 46 reports of people falling in the cycle lane.
On Monday 5th December, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s housing and regeneration director Simon Martin told councillors: “We had a number of unfortunate accidents and incidents post-scheme opening. The number of those has dramatically reduced, despite some of the social media claims that are going on.
“Actually when we evidence the actual reports of accidents and relate those through into insurance claims, the numbers have dramatically reduced and we have only experienced one or two since making the cycle lane red.”
But Keynsham East councillor Hal McFie disputed this. He said: “I think people are still falling. It may be that they are not damaging themselves as much as they did but they are still falling and the method of recording has not been well coordinated.”
This was reiterated by councillor Sally Davis who said: “I had a letter from a resident – and I don’t represent the Keynsham area – about someone who fell at the beginning of November. […] She ended up taken to A&E at RUH for resulting injuries to her face.”
Ms Davis said that the individual had reported the fall through Council Connect but had not heard anything back.
Mr Martin said that however people reported issues with the cycle path to the council, they were keeping track of all reported incidents in the same place.
The day after this meeting, another report of a fall was submitted. A person who suffers with arthritis and fibromyalgia and had also mistaken the kerb for a painted line.
They said: “As I stepped over the curb, I was expecting a flat surface which wasn’t there. I rolled my left ankle, fell, and landed on my right knee, wrist, and shoulder in the road stopping traffic.
“Thankfully several people kindly helped me up.
“I was in severe pain and knew I would be in trouble when the swelling and bruising set in. Unfortunately, due to my conditions, recovery will be slow, it is also going to stop me driving to take and collect my special needs boy from school.”
Councillors and officers will meet in January to review the number of accidents and whether more work is needed.
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter
