A new Middlesbrough cycle lane is set to be changed after its segregation markers were blamed for a number of accidents that resulted in personal injury.
Construction of the cycle lane on Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough commenced in February 2022 and was expected to take 14 weeks. However, due to various delays the works were only completed in October 2022. The cycle lane segregation markers are black and white and low-level, so they blend into the tarmac and road markings and are commonly known as “Orcas” because of their resemblance to whales. No appropriate warnings are displayed and the “Orcas” are hard to see which could have been avoided if they were fluorescent.
A number of accidents have been reported locally, including a 78-year-old woman who tripped over the markers on 26 August 2022 and suffered a broken wrist, black eyes, and various cuts and bruises.
Linthorpe Road is an area of heavy footfall, both day and night, due to the volume of shops, fast food outlets, pubs, and restaurants. Our team of specialist personal injury solicitors are of the view that Middlesbrough Council should have foreseen that the “Orcas” would create a foreseeable hazard to pedestrians. It is noted that the Department of Transport Cycle Infrastructure Design, Local Transport Note 1/20 (July 2020) states at 6.1.7 “low level light segregation can present a tripping hazard to pedestrians and should not therefore be used on pedestrian desire lines.” The Note also states at 6.3.7 “a run of low-level features should begin with a vertical feature to alert road users of their presence, particularly motorcyclists, who may lose control if they strike a light segregation feature unexpectedly.”
The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) previously highlighted the issues caused by the “Orcas”. For example, in the City of London where a mini-orca scheme was introduced in 2016, 55 pedestrians tripped on them within the first 24 hours of installation. This suggests the markers are trip hazards. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) also stated the dangers they pose to cyclists as they could collide with the Orcas and lose their balance and cause injury to themselves or other road users.
Teesside Live recently published a video of an emergency worker tripping over an Orca whilst responding to a fire. Fortunately, the worker did not suffer any injuries.
Middlesbrough Council have recently announced changes are to be made to the cycle lane following feedback from the public. “The decision has been taken to replace half of the rubber markers with upright poles to improve visibility.”
We would encourage any road users who have had an accident and suffered an injury as a result of the Orcas to contact us as soon as possible to enquire about making a No-Win-No-Fee claim on 01642 252828.
Author – Paris Thompson
