9:22am Tuesday 15th June 2010
By Jennifer Bell
LORRIES and buses will be allowed to edge into new cycle lanes which are to be trialled on one of York’s busiest streets.
The routes for cyclists pedalling along Gillygate are being introduced following a city-wide public consultation, but York’s former cycling champion has branded them confusing, potentially dangerous and “a scheme too far”.
The feeder lanes, funded through the Cycling City York initiative, will be launched within weeks, but Gillygate’s narrow nature means wider vehicles will be forced to straddle part of the routes, and cyclists have been warned they should only use the lanes when traffic is flowing slowly or at a standstill.
Their introduction came after hundreds of York residents who completed a Cycling City York questionnaire said they wanted improvements to aid cyclists in streets such as Gillygate, with the new lanes aimed at leaving them enough room to reach an advanced stop line at the head of traffic queues.
“One of the issues which kept cropping up was the need to improve facilities on some of the busiest but narrowest streets in the city centre to help cyclists negotiate queuing traffic,” said Cycling City York programme manager Graham Titchener.
“The nature of these streets posed a real problem for us and meant we were very limited in what we could do. However, we’re confident the cycle feeder lanes we’re trialling will make a real difference to both cyclists and motorists.”
But Coun Joe Watt, who formerly held the cycling champion role, said: “On narrow roads such as Gillygate, a cycle feeder lane is not practicable.
“The lane is a non-standard feature which will not be understood by cyclists and other road users. Consequently, it is likely to increase the hazards to cyclists.
“I understand and encourage the council’s ambition to get more of us cycling. However, the Gillygate lane is a scheme too far and Cycling City should concentrate on schemes which provide safe separation of cyclists from motor traffic and pedestrians, such as dedicated cycle routes.”
Coun Brian Watson, whose Guildhall ward includes Gillygate, said the move was aimed at making the junction less “dangerous”, adding: “By trialling these lanes, we will learn from the reaction and feedback we get how successful they are and whether they become a permanent fixture.”
Cyclists’ spokesman Paul Hepworth said any changes that looked at improving road conditions for cyclists should be welcomed.
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