‘Optical illusion’ cycle lane dubbed ‘Britain’s most dangerous’ will remain open – despite at least 80 people injured by falling since last March

• Shoppers in Keynsham High Street, Somerset, say they trip over ‘hidden’ kerb 

An ‘optical illusion’ cycle lane branded ‘Britain’s most dangerous’ will remain open – despite causing people to fall over and break their bones and smash their teeth.

The bike lane, on Keynsham High Street, in Somerset, has been blamed for injuring at least 80 people since it opened last March. 

Locals have criticised a ‘hidden’ kerb which has caused shoppers to trip over amid claims it looks like a flat surface because it is painted white.  

Photos of the £1.5million taxpayer-funded upgrade shows how it appears to be flat at a glance, but actually passes over an elevated pedestrian crossing. 

It comes amid calls to scrap the lane after MailOnline revealed in April that just three riders an hour are using it. 

A shopper is helped to his feet in April after tripping over the cycle lane and falling to the ground in Keynsham High Street, Somerset

It has been branded as ‘the most dangerous in Britain’ with shoppers outside the bustling town centre tripping over a ‘hidden’ kerb

But a cross-party plan to commit Bath and North East Somerset Council to investigate the costs of fixing it will now not go ahead.

READ MORE: ‘Optical illusion’ bike lane that has injured nearly 60 despite costing £1.5m is used by just three riders an hour 

It was due to go before council on September 21, but Keynsham councillors withdrew the motion out of fear it could be ‘torpedoed’ by the administration. 

The motion stated ‘many shoppers are too frightened to shop and will only be persuaded to return if the surface is returned to one without kerbs or raised surfaces in the road’.

A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat group said: ‘We’re taking reports of all falls seriously. 

‘The majority of incidents happened within the first six months of the scheme going in and the number of incidents is decreasing as people get used to the changes and in light of the amendments we have already made.’

Official figures show that that at least 76 people have reported falls in the cycle lane since it opened in March 2022, although the unreported figure is believed to be significantly higher.

Injuries people have included fractures, lost teeth, and significant bruising.

Construction of the lane took nine months, and it had to be re-painted red in August 2022 after 46 injuries were reported on the stretch of road in just six months.

Dave Dawson (pictured in April), 76, tripped over the kerb, which appears level but is actually a 4inch drop, and cut his hands and knees

Official figures show that that at least 76 people have reported falls in the cycle lane since it opened in March 2022. Injuries include lost teeth, fractures, and significant bruising

Locals wanting it scrapped have previously recalled their experiences of coming to harm there. 

READ MORE: Pensioner is left bloodied and bruised after becoming the latest casualty of an ‘optical illusion’ cycle lane that has seen almost SIXTY people injured in the last year 

Speaking in April, 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.

‘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.’

One of those who has used the cycle lane is 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.’ 

Shopper Brie Jones, 23, speaking in April said the lane ‘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’

While Dave Dawson, 76, tripped over the kerb in April, which appears level but is actually a 4inch drop, and cut his hands and knees. 

He 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.’

Last year, one pedestrian with arthritis and fibromyalgia reported a fall after mistaking the kerb for a painted line, while another elderly person ended up in A&E. 

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