An inquiry into the Edinburgh tram project is likely to consider evidence relating to the safety of cyclists after the death of a woman who was thrown off her bike when her wheel caught in the tracks.
The 24-year-old woman, who has not yet been named, came off her bike and was hit by a minibus at the junction of Princes Street and Lothian Road on Wednesday.
Chris Oliver, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon who has recorded a number of tram-related cycling incidents at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, said he would submit his findings in the hope that the inquiry broadened its scope.
Several cyclists came forward yesterday to describe how they had suffered similar experiences in incidents in which they were injured.
The inquiry team, chaired by Lord Hardie, will begin hearings in September. It aims to establish why the Edinburgh tram project came in over budget and incurred delays.
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Although its focus is not directly related to road safety, an inquiry spokesman said yesterday that it would consider all of the evidence submitted, raising hopes that safety will form part of its deliberations.
Professor Oliver has counted 220 incidents connected to the tram tracks since the network opened in May 2014. They include 64 fractures and 29 cases requiring surgery.
He said: “This is something that they [the inquiry] will have to consider. It is and will continue to be highly relevant to their investigations because they have to consider the network’s poor infrastructure. Neither the council nor inquiry can bury their heads in the sand any longer.”
Across other UK cities, measures have been implemented to improve safety for cyclists who pass over tram lines. In Manchester, hazard signs have been introduced and in Nottingham special lanes have been created for cyclists.
The charity Cycling UK said it received more complaints from cyclists in Edinburgh than in any other city in the UK.
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Duncan Dollimore, a senior road safety officer, said: “We are aware that this is a huge issue for cyclists in Edinburgh and something that cyclists have been consistently raising with the local council.
“When tram networks are being designed, efforts should be made to segregate cyclists so that they are not in close proximity to the trams. Crossing needs to be as close to a 90 degree angle as possible so the wheel isn’t at risk of being trapped.”
One cyclist injured in a similar incident agreed that the inquiry ought to consider the danger to cyclists. Molly Brown, 24, broke a knee when her bike lodged in the track and skidded across the line. She fell sideways on to a bin lorry and clung on to avoid falling under the vehicle.
“It’s scary to think that someone exactly the same age as me died doing exactly what I was doing, 500 metres away from where I was,” she said. “If I had been hit by the bin lorry it could have happened to me. Almost everyone I know can recount a story of a tram-related incident. I want the council to do something about it because people are dying.”
Brenda Mitchell, of Cycle Law Scotland, said warnings about the safety risks of the tram tracks in Edinburgh were being ignored by local authorities.
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A spokesman for the Edinburgh tram inquiry said that although its main aim was to investigate the design contract for the project, it would “review and consider all of the evidence” that was presented to it.
Edinburgh city council said it would carry out a safety review of the area where the death occurred.