No further changes are being planned at the cycle lane in Keynsham High Street where more than 100 pedestrians have been injured, some very seriously, it has been revealed.
The cycle lane on Keynsham’s High Street
Trips and falls began as soon as the lane opened as part of the £1.5 million High Street refurbishment in March 2022.
Signs advising people about the new layout were put up shortly afterwards. But even after the cycle lane was painted red in August of that year, the varying kerb heights continued to catch people out.
Despite efforts by the six district councillors for the town, working cross-party, they have only managed to get Lib Dem- controlled Bath & North East Somerset Council to carry out “minor tinkering” with the project, says Keynsham South councillor Alan Hale.
In April double yellow line markings were painted between the cycle lane and the street and a dashed line at the edge of the cycle lane replaced a white line. However, there are still reports of people falling.
Councillor Hale, an Independent councillor who is also the council’s member advocate for road safety, said that at the planning stage for the cycle lane, when cross-section drawings were shown to local councillors, both he and Councillor Andy Wait (Lib Dem, Keynsham East) pointed out that the drawings showed a built-in trip hazard.
Disability campaigners from the group Access B&NES also raised concerns.
Councillor Hale said that “common sense advice” was dismissed because the project was being “built to regulations”, a stance that the council has maintained throughout, despite the catalogue of injuries.
He said: “Casualties still continue to suffer trips and falls between the pavement and the cycle lane. There have been two in the past two weeks.
“Despite all of our efforts to protect our community from the injuries caused by a council-designed trip hazard, we have just been informed by the executive director for sustainable communities, Sophie Broadfield, that ‘As it stands we have no plans to make further changes to the design of the cycle lane’.
“I have been making representations to officers and the council leader since the lane opened and I was in High Street on the day it opened and casualty reports began that day and have continued ever since.
“Not only are the administration being dismissive of our community’s safety but also the safety of visitors to the town.
“Recently one visitor from Peasedown St John and another from Guildford were injured and needed an ambulance. By doing nothing to right this situation, we, the council, are adding to the work of our ambulance service, adding to the queues at the Royal United Hospital and adding to the work of the hard-pressed medical and nursing staff at A&E.”
Councillor Hale reiterated that he has warned both the council leader and the chief executive officer that should someone be killed as a result of a fall due to the cycle lane, they could be investigated for corporate manslaughter.
Councillor Hal MacFie (Lib Dem, Keynsham East) has been enlisting the help of the shops on High Street by providing them with letters to hand out to those who fall on the kerb.
The letter describes what action to take in the event of such a fall. Many of the shopkeepers are well-rehearsed in responding with a chair or cushions and blankets to assist the victims.
As reported earlier this year, Councillor MacFie has been working with Professor Ute Leonards, from the School of Psychological Science at the University of Bristol, to get a properly based analysis about the impact of the cycle lane, with people asked to share their experiences.
Councillor Hale added: “It has been a never-ending campaign and it was rewarding when all six councillors sat down together to fight for a change.
“Councillor George Leach (Lib Dem, Keynsham North) is going to take a lead now in seeking changes and I have assured him that I shall continue to support him. This ridiculous situation cannot continue.”
People can email Councillor Leach at george_leach@bathnes. gov.uk
