A pensioner has become the latest casualty of a notorious “optical illusion” cycle lane in Bristol after taking a tumble which left him nursing cuts to his hands and knees. Dave Dawson, 76, from Hanham, was visiting Keynsham Highborn Street yesterday after slipping off the edge of the kerb.
It was subsequently revealed that 59 people have suffered similar mishaps since the opening of the cycle lane in March, 2022.
Mr Dawson, who is retired, told Bristol Live: “I was walking along the pavement, and it’s sort of like an optical illusion; it looks as is 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.
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“When I came back up the road, I was obviously quite conscious of the kerb because I’d fallen over, and lo and behold, I fell over going back as well! Exactly the same.”
The problem was in some places, the cycle path is level with the kerb, but further down along the high street, drops about two inches, Mr Dawson pointed out.
Since the installation of the cycle lane, 21 people have pursued personal injury compensation claims against Bath and North East Somerset Council, and while seven have been rejected, the remainder is still being investigated – although there have been no payouts so far.
Mr Dawson was sanguine about his accident, saying: “I’m 76 but still pretty active.
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“So as soon as I realised what had happened, I got back up so it wasn’t the end of the world.
“It’s only grazes, I just cleaned it up myself.
“And everybody who asked ‘Are you alright’ as I got up, they all said ‘We’ve all done it.’
“Lots of people have done it and not been seriously hurt.”
He also downplayed any suggestions that he too would seek compensation, adding: “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 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.”
Express.co.uk has contacted Bath and North East Somerset Council for comment.