Hill dangerous for users of e-scooters

The most dangerous, steepest of the hills leading to the University of Bath, Widcombe Hill, has just been given the all clear for use for the hop-on, hop-off e-scooters by B&NES Council and Voi scooters.

As the previous joint cabinet member for transport at B&NES Council who initiated the Voi e-scooter roll-out, I was taken aback by this decision.

In my previous role, officers at B&NES and staff at Voi told me that this route was not one that they would advise and that Widcombe Hill was dangerous for Voi e-scooters, due to the sheer steepness of this particular route that leads to the university.

Voi agreed that this hill would be geo-fenced and that this would prevent Voi e-scooters from accessing this route and would help prevent undue risk or accidents.

I continue to argue that Widcombe Hill is a dangerous hill for e-scooter users because of mixing

at the low speed of 12.5mph with larger, faster-moving motorised vehicles, in combination with steepness, parked cars and therefore a lack of visibility.

To date, two cyclists have died whilst descending Widcombe Hill.

At July’s B&NES cabinet, I asked Cllr Warren the following questions on Voi e-scooters.

“Was the university included in part of the discussions about the route to the campus at Claverton?”

“Why has North Road been avoided? This seriously impacts many on the east of Bath and fails to deliver sustainable connectivity.”

“There appears to be no connection between Batheaston and Bathampton – why?”

Cllr Warren said: “The Voi e-scooter trial is being undertaken by Weca, and Weca will be able to respond to issues pertaining to the trial.”

As deputy leader of council and a cabinet member, Cllr Warren decided not to answer any of my questions, but I would assume Cllr Warren would have known at that point about the impending decision to make Widcombe Hill available for use by e-scooters.

The Lib Dems came to power in 2019 on the promise of being bold. They wanted to deliver on the climate emergency and reduce district carbon emissions with their ‘Journey to Net Zero.’

One of the biggest centres of people and movement in Bath is the University of Bath, perched high on Claverton Down, which can be reached by one of three hills: North Road, Widcombe Hill and Bathwick Hill.

All these hills have access issues, but the least steep is North Road. The least number of people living on these hills is North Road. The hill that was identified in the council’s master cycle map for Bath was North Road.

North Road has been at the centre of debate now for over two years regarding the creation of an active travel route to the university.

The ongoing issue of lack of buses across the district, including to the university, is very much apparent and this was the reason initially for government funding for an active travel route to the University of Bath. Bath and its many residents, including schoolchildren and students, are still without a safe route to Claverton Down and now they have been actively given a dangerous hill to use with e-scooters.

I am therefore calling on B&NES Council to deliver a safe active travel route up the hill, on whatever road is deemed most suitable; either through protected cycle/ scoot lanes or a restriction on through traffic.

Joanna Wright Green Party councillor for Lambridge, Bath and North East Somerset Council