A cyclist who was badly injured when his bike hit an overgrown tree root is calling for improvements to a ‘dire’ cycle-path next to a busy road.

The man from Witney suffered a badly dislocated shoulder and extensive cuts and bruising after hitting a tree stump on the A40 cycle path.

Complaints have prompted Oxfordshire County Council to now say improvement works are due to start imminently in response to accidents. 

READ MORE: Family farm in dispute with HS2 over woodland

The injured cycle path user said: “It was a sunnyish day and I knew that there was going to be a bump because I go along that cycle path quite frequently.

"To remember where the bumps are I count the path markings after the layby.

"But because I had overtaken someone the tree root just appeared up in front of me.

“I lost control of the bike. I went over the handlebars. I had my feet clipped in so there was nothing I could do to stop it.

“Fortunately an ambulance was passing and they saw me and stopped and they loaded my bike into the car.

“It was a back shoulder dislocation which is very rare because they are usually at the front but the impact was so strong. So I was sent to the John Radcliffe Hospital. 

“My arm was in a sling for two weeks and I had to have time off work.

“The doctor told me 'absolutely put in a claim. It wasn’t your fault'. He said that they needed to put up a sign if there was anything in the way.”

He later received a settlement from Oxfordshire County Council.

The cyclist reported the obstruction and returned to the area later that day.

He said: “My accident happened at around 8 to 8.30am and by 5pm the council had sent out a crew and they had already covered it.

“But they put tarmac on top of it so it was now 10cms high. They actually raised the bump to four inches.”

Oxford Mail: A40 cycle path 'dire'

He believes the cycle path is still dangerous.

He said: “There are still many of these roots on the West Oxfordshire side closer to Eynsham roundabout.

“I get punctures at least once per week and I always get my clothes ripped and get scratches from the overgrown hedges.

“There’s a bit of the path past Barnard Gate where there’s only one lane and there are overgrown bushes and a fallen down fence.

 

“It’s quite downhill and you pick up speed quite quickly and there’s a very, very narrow space and if anything comes you are bound to go right into the road.

“I can't understand why they don't improve this cycle path when it's one of the most congested routes into Oxford. And they say they want to encourage active travel.”

The lack of a dedicated path on the B4044 Eynsham to Botley road – which cycle groups have been campaigning for for over a decade - means some of those cyclists also use the A40 cycle path.

Paul Elliott from Deer Park, who cycles from Witney to his job at Siemens in Eynsham every day in the summer months, agreed the cycle path is ‘atrocious’.

Oxford Mail: Paul ElliottPaul Elliott (Image: Paul Elliott)

He has several times reported encroaching grass and weeds making the path less than half its original width.

After the Oxford Mail first reported his concerns in June he said there has been “no change in the cycle path whatsoever".

He said: “This is a complete joke if the maintenance was kept up it would cost less in the long term.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all that someone dislocated their shoulder. I know people who have had accidents.

“The county council reply and say they’ve cut the grass - report closed.

"They don’t seem to understand about the grass and weeds growing on the actual tarmac or the overhanging branches.

“I understand all this stuff about rewilding but it should not be put ahead of people’s safety. 

“A few years ago they were only cutting the grass once a year. Then it was up at handlebar height. Now they’re doing it twice a year. But it’s not the grass that’s the problem it’s the weeds coming up through the tarmac.

“Without a doubt it should be a priority.”

Another resident raised concerns about overhanging trees on the pathway.

He said the footpath around the pull-in at the bus stop is so overgrown, pedestrians and cyclists are forced to go on to the highway against the traffic flow.

A county council spokesman said: "This length of the A40 and other locations across the county are on a £1million programme of works to improve key footway and cycleways.

"This work will include vegetation cut backs, siding out (recovering to full width) and, where necessary, surface improvements.

"This programme of work is due to start this week."