Environmentalist killed after app routed him onto busy dual carriageway

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 16:44 · Archive

Benjamin Wells-Lane, 46, died after a bike navigation app directed him onto a 40mph dual carriageway in Dorset on his electric unicycle.

Benjamin Wells-Lane, 46, a handyman and environmentalist, died after a bike navigation app directed him onto the A338 dual carriageway in Bournemouth, Dorset, on 3 July. He was riding an electric unicycle on a 40mph stretch of the road when traffic came to a halt in front of him. Unable to brake in time, he swerved left and collided with a lamppost. Emergency services attended and administered CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination determined he died from fatal bleeding caused by a traumatic aortic injury.

The inquest heard that the electric unicycle Mr Wells-Lane was riding was illegal to use on British roads, although he held a valid UK driving licence. His widow Patrisha said her husband hated cars and preferred to walk or use his unicycle to travel, believing this was better for the environment and would reduce traffic congestion. She said the bike apps he used would often direct him onto the A338.

Mrs Wells-Lane described her husband as a 'safety-conscious rider' who was always equipped with a helmet, protective clothing and a high-vis jacket. She said: 'He was a skilled and well-practised rider. I believe the A338 should not be marked as a bike route. There was nothing that could've controlled it, no safety gear that could've prevented injury.'

How it is being reported

• Man killed after app directed him onto dual carriageway on electric unicycleBenjamin Wells-Lane, 46, was pronounced dead at the scene in DorsetThe Independent · 13 Oct, 16:24
• Environmentalist killed in crash after bike app sent him down dual carriageway on his electric unicycleBenjamin Wells-Lane, 46, was riding the illegal stand-up device on a 40mph stretch of the A338 in Bournemouth, Dorset, when traffic ground to a halt in front of him.Daily Mail · 12 Oct, 12:33

In this story: Benjamin Wells-Lane · A338 · Bournemouth · Dorset · Richmond Hill roundabout

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