Calls for removal of Keynsham ‘optical illusion’ cycle lane
This story leaves me unclear as to whether it’s the cyclists or the pedestrians or both who are being injured. What is for sure is that we have clearly not solved the challenge of integrating the two in modern small urban (or indeed any type of) settings!!
In March 2022, a new cycle lane was installed on Keynsham High Street.
Personal injury claims against Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) Council have been made by 21 people. Seven of those have been rejected, but the rest remain open and under investigation.
The council stated that no insurance claims had currently been settled and no payments had been made yet.
People have described the white road markings as “optical illusions”, as the white kerbs and painted white lines look similar.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the figures were obtained through a freedom of information request to BANES Council, submitted by Councillor Alan Hale.
He is calling for the cycle lane to be removed in the interest public health and safety.
The lane was painted red in August 2022 with the hope of reducing the number of falls.
Councillor Mark Roper, the cabinet member for economic development, regeneration and growth, defended the council’s response to the issues.
He said the cycle lane was built to the government’s current LTN120 standards and a series of mitigations were put in place in response to the reported incidents, and a Stage 4 Road Safety Audit had been commissioned to suggest any further improvements.