By james art Resident Dan Gilbert said the new lane near The Argyle Arms on Argyle Road, off Preston Road, Brighton, was causing bike crashes.
He said: “I was one of three bikes in a row to crash at the same spot due to a hidden kerb. It’s super dangerous.
“Luckily my only injuries are cuts and bruises as I was wearing a helmet – as were the other guys – but if you’re an adult it can kill you.
Dan said the sidewalk and bike lane are the same color and people “assume everything is a bike lane.”
He said the lighter curb looks flat but actually has a lip, so when cyclists mistakenly think they can use the whole area, they turn and the curb trips them
He said: “It is unexpected that there is a curb in the middle of what looks like a cycle lane. You can’t plan for it, especially since the other guy on the next road is normal and doesn’t knock you over.”
The cycleway has a similar design to the Vogue Gyratory cycleway on Lewes Road. In 2014, two people were taken to hospital after falling from their bikes following a crash involving three cyclists. The cyclists said the “disguised curb” led them to the crash.
Councilor Trevor Mooten, cabinet member for transport, parking and public space, said: “It is obviously worrying to hear of cyclists involved in an accident, particularly on a cycle lane designed to make cycling safer for residents. This is something we will look into.
“It’s a stepped bike lane with a clear and visible curb that shows where the bike lane and the road end and the sidewalk begins. It is designed in accordance with Ministry of Transport guidelines and has a minimal slope of just a few millimeters.
“We have not yet completed the full length of this cycleway, which will provide an important access route along Preston Road, but this section has been in use for several months and we have not directly received any reports of problems.
“The best thing for cyclists to do if they are experiencing problems is to contact us so we can look into their concerns in more detail and detail.”