A BARMY council has angered motorists by telling cyclists to ignore a two-meter bike lane and use it in the middle of the road instead.
In Boscombe, cyclists in Dorset “now think they own the road” while the council painted bicycle symbols in the middle of a busy street and encouraged riders to use them.
Motorists have criticized the council’s decision to make bicycle signs on the road and to make bicycle lanes impassable.
Motorists criticize council’s decision to remove bicycle symbols on roads and make bicycle lanes impassable: BNPS
Cyclists are encouraged to skip and take a bike lane designated by a local council
Cyclists are encouraged to skip a bike lane designated by a local council and instead take a “prominent position” on the road Photo credit: BNPS
The move by the Bournemouth Christchurch and Pool (BCP) Council has ignored the A35 sidewalk alternative and angered the local community.
Local Nick Beck asked, “If there’s a dedicated bike lane, why are they asked to ride bikes in the main lane?”
Steve Martin says: “They make bike lanes and then draw bike symbols on the main road.
A spokesman for the BCP Council said: “We have recently renovated the road and widened the cycle lanes to current standards.
“Highlighted road signs are designed to encourage cyclists to take a prominent position in the lane.”
Changes to the highway code earlier this year allowed cyclists to ride in the middle of a quiet road and two equally, but Donna Clark argued that “it should be in the highway code that cyclists must use bicycle lanes if they exist.”
“It’s absolutely ridiculous and causes traffic jams, delayed emergency vehicles and torn souls.”
The BCP Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and pledged to make all its activities carbon neutral by 2030.
Locals believe the latest move is part of a conspiracy to evict motorists from the road.
The council again angered its members last year when it spent £ 102 million to build two bicycle lanes along a major road.
Drivers say that if an emergency vehicle needs to pass, it leaves no room for road construction, as the new bike lanes are separated from traffic by 6-inch raised curbs and “restricted” traffic.
On their website, BCP officials are proud to “improve the safety of cyclists and walkers on major transportation sites through the £ 312,000 Government Emergency Active Travel Grant.”
The decision of the council to draw a large bicycle symbol in the middle of the road while cyclists use the bike lane has angered motorcyclists.