Edinburgh cyclists to sue over tram track falls
Dozens of cyclists in Edinburgh could be in line for a £10,000 payout by suing the council for negligence after sustaining injuries from slipping on tram tracks
Cyclists who ride in cities where trams are commonplace will know the danger of slipping on the tracks, but now dozens of riders in Edinburgh are set to sue the council after suffering injuries in such incidents.
The Edinburgh Evening News reports that between 50 and 60 cyclists will make a claim against the council for negligence, represented by Thompsons Solicitors.
According to the paper, lawyers argue that the design of the tram system and the warning signs in place amount to negligence on the council's part.
>>> Edinburgh University students use Google Glass in cyclist stress study
Stewart White, an associate at Thompsons Solicitors, said: “We’re hopeful that we will get a successful judgement. We’re confident of proceeding and that a successful judgement will pave the way for settling the remainder.
“The council have repudiated liability in every case. The position has been that the tram tracks are there to be seen, and that’s it. That’s simply not good enough.
“The bottom line is that they have removed cycling provision and they have replaced it with the tram system, which is essentially a railway through the city centre. What’s a cyclist supposed to do in that environment?
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“Quite astonishingly, they have painted a bicycle between the tram tracks in the West End. That more or less guides cyclists between the tram tracks. They then can’t get to the acute angle they need to safely cross the line.”
>>> Proposed Edinburgh cycle hire scheme could ‘convert people to cycling’
David Steel, who was nearly crushed by a bus when he fell off his bike, called the tram lines a "death trap".
“I got my front wheel across the first tram track and the next thing I know, I’m lying on my back looking up at a bus which is just over the top of my head,” he said. “If it hadn’t stopped, I was crushed," he told the Evening News.
The council could be in line to foot a bill of more than £500,000 if the claims are upheld in court, with lawyers predicting payouts of up to £10,000 per case.
Source: Edinburgh Evening News
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
Is Lotte Kopecky's bog-standard Specialized Crux proof that you don't need wide tires and fancy suspension systems for gravel racing?
Kopecky finished second at Gravel Worlds on a bike with minimal modifications
By Joe Baker Published
-
Undercover Mechanic: Cyclists have become very excited about aerodynamics without a correlated excitement for pilates - the result is a lot of spacers
90% of the front area is you, not the bike; having a kamtail downtube will make sod all difference if you’re unable to reach the bars, argues CW’s Undercover Mechanic
By Undercover Mechanic Published