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Landmark legal decision: cyclists win damages over Edinburgh tram track falls

Landmark legal decision: cyclists win damages over Edinburgh tram track falls

Two cyclists who suffered falls while crossing tram lines in Edinburgh have been awarded undisclosed damages from Edinburgh City Council. 

Ian Lowdan and Elizabeth Fairley brought legal action after being thrown from their bikes in Haymarket and Princes Street in 2012 and 2013 respectively. The complainants argued that a bike symbol on Princes Street gave the impression that the tram line was a cycle track, while the road layout outside Haymarket required cyclists heading west to cross tram tracks at an acute angle of 30 degrees. 

In her ruling, Lady Wolffe said that at each location road and tram infrastructure posed a hazard to cyclists. 

A further 39 claims by cyclists against the council are now expected to proceed.

We've read it in: Today’s Railways UK, September 2019, p22