Many people have told us that they find this junction to be scary, and some people avoid the area with their bikes. This is due to a slippery and very uneven surface making it difficult to properly steer a cycle and hand signal. This is especially so when vehicles are in conflict with cyclist's movements. We know that people have sustained injuries, either due to other vehicles hitting them or by slipping and sustaning a broken limb. By ignoring this danger for vulnerable road users for so many years, SWT and SCC are both in breach of their 'duty of care'.
Yet it is the heart of town routes that people wish to use. It is one of the 15 hotspots from our 2016 user survey. It is part of the SWT proposed Vivary Park-Station route. Without greater safety here, this route will not be effective.
Here are just a few of the many dozens of comments that we have recieved:
'Death trap as it’s so wobbly. Never risked going round in the rain.'
'The cobbles are so bumpy and dangerously slippery in wet weather and makes it impossible to signal to other motorists where you are exiting. Both hands need to be on the handlebars to be able to maintain control of the bike.'
'The cobbles and ridges between mean that the bike wheel gets stuck in the ruts and therefore difficult to steer. Need to hold very tight to handle-bars - therefore impossible to make signals to other road users. Also very prone to wobbling across the traffic because to the ruts.'
'The cobbles are dangerous as I feel that my tyres will slip, especially in wet weather. Also, the jolting on my bike is uncomfortable and painful. I try to avoid cycling on this part whenever possible.'
'vibration through seat handle bars for no suspension bike. Also bad for walkers on carnival night'
'MotorBike tires slide during wet weather'
We supported previous Somerset West and Taunton Council's High St Fund bid which included funding to provide a safer surface for cycling at the junction. We were in discussion with SWT on how this would be designed, for several of years. Now SWT's successor , Somerset Council, say they have pulled this project This is a major let down. They are pulling the scheme because bus priority measures are being considered for East Reach and this might affect the Market St roundabout (although buses currently use the junction in all directions without issues).
Given that the Council has pulled the scheme, they should at least carry out urgent repairs to make it safe. This should include filling the gaps between the cobbles, repairing the subsiding areas and making the surface less slippery in the wet. Somerset Council is in breach of a clear 'duty of care' to cyclists and motor cyclists in failing to maintain a safe surface on the roundabout.
