Cylist broke six ribs after hitting raised white line on cycle superhighway

A cyclist who broke six ribs when he hit a raised white line on a cycle superhighway has called for a review of the scheme and signs to avoid future accidents.

Max Hotopf, 60, was thrown from his bike after colliding with the painted ridge which separates cyclists from vehicles in Farringdon Road. He said the ridge, about 10cm high, looked like a regular white line marking which he could cross.

Mr Hotopf, of Finsbury Park, was treated in hospital after the accident on June 4 and will have seven weeks of rehabilitation. The stretch of cycle superhighway 6 where he came off — just north of the Clerkenwell Road junction — opened last month. Transport for London said the accident was the first involving the raised line reported to them. Mr Hotopf said: “I have been cycling on London’s roads for 40 years so I am very experienced. It looked like a normal white line, there was nothing to suggest it was raised. I hit it and went flying and now I have these injuries.

“This is badly thought out and TfL need to come up with some answers. They need to put up warning signs, it’s so easy not to spot the danger.”

He added: “It’s only a matter of time before someone else is seriously hurt. They need to sort it out — the cycle lane is supposed to keep riders safe, not injure them.”

TfL has launched an investigation and said: “Safety is our top priority and we always closely monitor new cycle lanes.”