Review of cycle lanes in Grimsby after cyclist is injured on 'dangerous' path

CYCLE lanes in Grimsby town centre are under review, with the possibility of a link between East Street and the Town Hall.

It comes as one of the paths, on Pasture Street, is branded dangerous by some users.

East Marsh ward councillor and keen cyclist Steve Beasant, is now urging highways bosses to take action.

Mr Beasant (Lib Dem, East Marsh) raised concerns about the cycle lane in Pasture Street back in April – two months before his wife Carol came off her bike as she swerved to avoid a pedestrian.

He says the fact the cycle route – which is marked by red paving stones – runs straight down the middle of the footpath means it is a hazard for both cyclists and pedestrians.

And he claims the cycle path is not sufficiently defined, resulting in pedestrians walking in it, increasing the risk of collisions.

Jim Kershaw, 32, regularly uses the cycling path into the town centre from where he lives in the East Marsh.

"I think the cycle path is pretty useless", he said. "It's always used by pedestrians anyway. I've not seen any problems myself but I can see how it would be dangerous.

"People just don't care, they'll go wherever they want to."

Jean Moody, 66, of Willingham Street, added: "The cycle path should be nearer the road, not right in the middle of the path. Sometimes I see the cyclist weaving in and out of the pedestrians."

Mr Beasant believes the cycle path should run at the edge of the footpath next to the road, and that extra signage be installed to make it more obvious to pedestrians.

He said: "It has been badly designed. With it being down the centre of the path, a lot of people don't realise it's a cycle route – it is not very obvious."

The section where Carol had her accident, between East Street and Victoria Street, was added as part of the recent town centre redevelopment. Carol suffered grazing to her knee and a haematoma after coming off her bike on June 18.

She underwent two operations on her knee and fell and broke her shoulder after losing her balance whilst recuperating at home.

She said: "I had just gone across East Street and came up to some people who were walking in the cycle path.

"I rang my bell and they moved out of the way, but another person walked into it. I swerved to avoid her and ended up on my hands and knees.

"Three people stopped and asked if I was all right but the young girl just looked at me as if to say I had no right to be there. They should have left the road as it was, but someone decided to change it and cause havoc."

Mr Beasant also expressed concerns about lorries parking on the cycle path close to the junction with Victoria Street.

He added: "There's going to be an almighty accident. We are not designing cycle paths properly and cyclists are getting a bad name.

"It begs the question as to how many of the people who design these things are actually cyclists."

A spokesperson for North East Lincolnshire Council said: "We have been contacted about the cycle path and we are sorry to hear about the incident that resulted in an injury.

"This layout for the cycle lane was assessed and is considered to be the safest route.

"We are currently reviewing the provision of cycle lanes within the town centre, including the introduction of a link along East Street towards the Town Hall."

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