A 76-year-old man has become the latest victim of the notorious 'optical illusion' cycle lane.
Dave Dawson is one of the 59 people who have been injured on Keynsham High Street after a new cycle lane was installed in March 2022.
After nine months of work, the lane was finally ready and cyclists in Somerset would have an alternative route, which was designed to make reaching their destination that little bit easier.
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But instead, a bizarrely dangerous phenomenon of people falling in the high street has taken place.
Most recently, pensioner Dave was visiting the high street in Keynsham, Somerset, on Thursday (27 April), when he accidentally tripped over the edge of the kerb and suffered blooded injuries to his hands and knees.
Locals have agreed with Dave's description of road markings, for which he refers to as an 'optical illusion', as 21 people have reportedly pursued personal injury compensation claims against the council.
"I was walking along the pavement, and it’s sort of like an optical illusion; it looks as is if it's all level," he explained.
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"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.
"When I came back up the road, I was obviously quite conscious of the curb because I’d fallen over, and lo and behold, I fell over going back as well! Exactly the same.
"The trouble is that in some places on the high street, the cycle path uses the same principle, but the cycle path is level with the curb, but as you walk along, it drops down about two inches.
"I think it’s where they thought people would be crossing."
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Seven of the 21 claims have reportedly been rejected thus far, while the rest remain open and under investigation.
Dave called his fall an 'embarrassment', which he felt was worse than the actual injuries.
"I'm 76 but still pretty active. So as soon as I realised what had happened, I got back up so it wasn't the end of the world," he admitted.
"It’s only grazes, I just cleaned it up myself.
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“I’m not intending to make any claim or anything like that.
"I feel if I did that, you’re only claiming against your own money because it comes from the council.
“I think, in all honesty, the intention [of the cycle path] is good, and apparently, it's to the government standards, but I think they’ve made a mistake.
"It will have to be rectified, but it’s getting them to admit they were wrong. We all make mistakes."
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LADbible has contacted Keynsham Town Council for comment.
Topics: UK News
Anish Vij