‘Optical illusion’ cycle lane is given paint job…but people are STILL ‘bamboozled’ with hundreds tripping over

AN ‘OPTICAL illusion’ cycle lane that has left more than 60 people injured has been given a paint job – but locals are STILL tripping over. 

White kerbs on the high street in Keynsham, Somerset, have left cyclists and pedestrians thinking they’re painted lines – only to fall head over wheel in nasty accidents.

Paul Gillis/BristolLive/BPM

Keynsham High Street and joint pedestrian and cycle path that has a dangerous step down onto the roadway[/caption]

SWNS

Alan Flyng, 72, with the new lines painted last night[/caption]

Paul Gillis/BristolLive/BPM

Dave Dawson, who fell while crossing last year[/caption]

SWNS

The new lines painted last night[/caption]

The chaos has led to a staggering 59 injuries in 2023 – and sue to the oddly high number injured, the winding lane on Keynsham High street has been dubbed an “optical illusion“.

The dangerous cycle lane used to be the same colour as the road, until one councillor called for it to be painted.

Now it has been given a paint job – but residents are still being left “bamboozled”.

Last night contractors painted double yellow lines along the road and swapped the solid white lines for dashed lines – with the local council hoping this will solve the problem.

But when asked if it would stop falling locals were not convinced. 

Jeff Gardner, 74, told Somerset Live: “They are trying to bring your attention to the line, I can see that, but I don’t think black is going to bring people’s attention to it.”

“If you were working in industry, you would never have this because it’s a trip hazard. You’d definitely never have a step there and a step there. Its just dangerous.”

Meanwhile, Derek Francis, 78, believes the drop is the problem. 

He said: “Get rid of these kerbs and just have a white line.”

He added: “I’m very careful because if I fall over I’ll have had it.”

Last year a pensioner was snapped as he fell on the “dangerous” path.

Photos show Dave Dawson, 76, left blooded and bruised after tripping in front of horrified bystanders.

Meanwhile Mary Richmond, 71, broke her shoulder in two places after a fall from the kerb last year.

Paul Rope, the council’s cabinet member for economic and cultural sustainable development, said: “This mitigation should make the change in levels clearer to pedestrians and prevent further trips and falls.”