A CYCLIST claims lives are being endangered by motorists darting into a cycle lane to avoid new speed cushions on a York road.

Matt Marsden said an additional line of speed cushions had been installed by City of York Council in Haxby Road, near Joseph Rowntree School, which stretched further into the cycle lane than previously.

“This has led to cars ‘darting’ out of the traffic lane and into the cycle lane on every occasion that I have used this route to commute to work,” Mr Marsden said.

“On two of these three occasions, the car has been dangerously close to knocking me down. My fiancée has also been on the receiving end of this.

“I use super bright lights on my daily commute, and still some drivers cannot see me in their wing mirrors when I’m coming up the cycle lane.

“Can you imagine how much less they will see a school child who uses no lights at that time in a morning?”

Mr Marsden said he was astonished that following a recent spate of cyclists being killed in London, the authority in York was putting more cyclists – especially commuting children – in direct danger. “Not one bit of common sense appears to have been used when constructing these new speed humps,” he claimed.

He pointed out that even installing a speed hump the width of the road would be preferable to the current situation.

But a council spokeswoman said potential conflicts between cyclists and motorists should be minimal, as vehicles should be travelling at a reduced speed, which should result in a safer environment for cyclists.

“In addition, the cycle lanes should emphasise to motorists the presence of cyclists on road,” she said.

Tony Clarke, the council’s head of transport, said the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers was paramount, which was why the council approved work to improve access and crossing points in and around the school in Haxby Road last October.

Mr Clarke said records indicated there had never been any traffic incidents on this road involving cyclists in conflict with vehicles.

“However, the scheme will of course be subject to a post-completion road safety audit,” he said.

“Any recommendations made by the audit on safety grounds will be fully reviewed and relevant actions taken to remedy any concerns.”