Safety concerns have been raised about traffic on Exeter High Street after two accidents involving buses occurred within hours of each other.
A man was taken to hospital following a collision with a bus outside NatWest bank at around midday yesterday.
A young female cyclist then escaped with minor injuries after her bike was involved in a crash with a bus near the Queen Street junction at around 6.30pm.
City centre manager John Harvey expressed his sympathy with those affected by the incidents.
"The two incidents were clearly unfortunate and my thought are with those involved," he said.
Tens of thousands of people pass down the High Street each day, and numbers tend to increase in the run-up to Christmas
Mr Harvey continued: "It may be useful to debate different arrangements for different parts of the High Street. For example, the section from M&S to Athena is narrower than elsewhere.
"But the reality is that considering the number of pedestrians, buses and cyclists, accidents are very rare. And while there are clearly strong opinions on both sides about buses, we should be very cautious and shouldn't rush into making any changes."
The incidents prompted people to call for buses to be prohibited from travelling on the street, while others came-out in defence of them.
Steve Taylor wrote on Facebook: "One day a child will be hit by a bus on this street. It's ridiculous that we have buses squeezing up and down this narrow street packed with pedestrians just to keep Stagecoach happy."
Sandra Martin, a Subway sign holder, said: "The bus drivers have got great patience. Some people are [ignorant] about the right of way. I've seen one accident where an old man went under a bus and many other near misses."
Others criticised pedestrians for apparently treating the area as if they were its sole users.
Talasi May wrote on Facebook: "Surprised something like this hasn't happened sooner and regularly, so many people just walk out onto the high street without looking acting like it's still a pathway."
Richard Horsefall, an AA sales representative, said: "Once when I was at the top of Bedford Street a bus went into a lady who walked into the road and he was very upset. But in my opinion it wasn't the bus driver who was at fault, it was the pedestrian."
Stagecoach defended the presence of its vehicles on the High Street, saying it is "essential" they remain allowed to use the area for accessibility.
A Stagecoach spokesman said: "Exeter High Street, like many city centres, is an extremely busy shared space with a mix of buses, pedestrians and cyclists. "Our drivers therefore receive extensive training on how to navigate it and are limited to a 10mph speed limit. Consequently, incidents involving pedestrians and cyclists are very rare and have, in fact, declined year on year.
"We believe it's essential for buses to remain in Exeter High Street in order to provide a quality service for those who work and shop in the immediate area, as well as maintaining accessibility for older customers, mothers with young children and wheelchair users."
The High Street is a categorised as a 'pedestrian zone', but buses and cyclists allowed access at all times and some loading vehicles allowed overnight.
A Devon County Council spokesman said: "We are continually working with bus companies, such as Stagecoach, and with cyclists to ensure the High Street is as safe as possible for everyone."VOTE NOWResults will be announced on our website on Monday
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