BLIND and deaf people are afraid to walk through the city centre with cyclists passing them at 'high speed' with some even mocking them as disabled pedestrians share harrowing accounts.
'Horrified' Cllr Alan Amos vows to fight any relaxation of a cycling ban in Worcester High Street's pedestrian zone, arguing the rules are there to protect people.
However, some cyclists want the rules relaxed with Bike Worcester arguing the majority of paths such as canal towpaths are already shared and the greatest danger comes from drivers.
Bike Worcester called the existing prohibition 'a huge barrier' to people making short journeys by bike, asking for a review of the Traffic Regulation Order which bans vehicles (including cyclists) from using the High Street between 10am and 6pm.
Leaders at Sight Concern Worcestershire said many vision and hearing-impaired people already feel unsafe.
Elizabeth Baio, who is blind and uses a cane to help her navigate, said she is often scared by unexpected cycles passing her at speed in the High Street.
Another vision-impaired person, who did not want to share her name, said: "It can take years to adapt to a world without sight and it is very mentally draining, especially when you are having to listen out for hazards."
She described an occasion when a group of cyclists rode very close to her in the pedestrianised zone.
“I was not fully aware of what was going on around me until my friend explained it all. I could hear the noise of the bikes but had no idea what they were doing or where they were. I have also had cyclists make noises and laughing at me while behind or passing me."
As a result of these experiences, she feels scared and anxious to be in the city.
A member of the deaf community explained she has experienced abusive gestures from cyclists for not moving out of their way on the High Street.
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She said: “I am not expecting there to be cyclists in a pedestrianised area and I cannot see or hear them when they approach from behind, even if they ring a bell or call out. They are angry that I do not move out of the way but they should not even be there."
Joanne Webber, the charity’s head of operations, herself registered blind, said people living with sensory impairment face many hazards such as shared cycle paths and pavement parking.
She added: "We need safer places where we do not have to be on constant alert to risks we cannot see or hear. I avoid parts of the city centre, including Cathedral Square, because they are so disorientating, inaccessible and dangerous."
The charity’s chief executive officer, Anne Eyre, said: "It is important that people are aware of the barriers faced by people living with sensory impairment.
"Our goal is for Worcester city centre to be a safe and respectful place for all of those who want to experience everything it has to offer."
Dan Brothwell of Bike Worcester said: "Cycling advocacy groups should be working collaboratively with the visually impaired community to make travelling around the city by any means as safe as possible.
"It remains a fact that the greatest risk to all road users is caused by people driving, notably anti-social, dangerous and illegal driving, which can be witnessed every day in Worcester.
"Added to this the scourge of illegal parking and pavement parking in the city, which no doubt has a big impact on visually impaired road users in addition to other pedestrians, there seems plenty to work together on to reduce road danger.
"Whilst it’s essential there are safe routes for pedestrians including those with hearing or sight loss, and others who have mobility issues, it is also essential there are safe routes for people choosing to cycle."
He added: "I'm in complete agreement that Worcester city centre should be a safe and respectful place for all; we’re on the same page.
"At present there are no segregated safe routes across the city centre for those choosing to cycle. Expecting people to share space with multiple lanes of traffic is far from best practice; this includes families, or children cycling independently.
"The proposed review by Marc Bayliss is sensible. If designated routes are provided for people riding bikes this has the potential to improve the environment for pedestrians, as there are expectations about where people and bikes will be. We need a city that works for everyone. It should also be noted that the current TROs prohibit mobility scooters, which is crazy, if not discriminatory."
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