Council bosses are accused of wasting taxpayer’s money on ‘weird and confusing’ 8ft semi-circular cycle lane on busy main road
- Locals have been left baffled by a ‘confusing’ semi-circular cycle lane in Halifax
- The new markings depict a bicycle symbol within a semi-circle on the pavement
- Work by Calderdale Council was funded by West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund
- Local councillor has said the markings could now present a danger to road users
Council bosses have been accused of wasting tax payer’s money after a ‘weird’ semi-circular cycle lane was painted on a busy main road in West Yorkshire.
Calderdale Council had their workers paint the ‘confusing’ bike lane, which measures roughly 8ft, on Kings Cross Road in Halifax, using part of the £4.9m West Yorkshire plus Transport fund to improve local transport links.
But residents have been left baffled after the markings appeared on the road shortly after the New Year, with many branding it a ‘waste of money’ and others simply asking ‘what is it for?’
The Liberal Democrat Leader in the council, James Baker, believes the markings could present a danger to road users, who would be unsure what it actually means and how it applies to them.
Residents have been left baffled after the markings appeared on the road shortly after the New Year, with many branding it a ‘waste of money’ and others simply asking ‘what is it for?’
The Liberal Democrat Leader in the council, James Baker, (pictured) believes the markings could present a danger to road users
‘They have created this little weird semi-circle, and it’s left most local residents completely at a loss as to what it actually even means’, Mr Baker said.
‘It’s at a perpendicular right angle to the road. So it’s not even like you’re on a cycle lane and then suddenly enter it. We are trying to guess what it means.
‘We think maybe it’s a shared space for cyclists and pedestrians – and that it’s telling cyclists they have to give way. That’s our best guess.
‘But most residents are just confused. They’ve never seen something like this before in their lives
‘And confusion on the road is dangerous. If a cyclist misunderstands that or basically thinks it was something different, it could cause an accident.’
He added that he has been upset over the use of the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund to do the work.
The £1bn fund is targeted at enabling key development areas, and aims to create around 20,000 new jobs in the region over the next decade. Plans include improve motorway access, orbital road improvements, and radial improvements on corridors for better public transport options in urban centres.
It will also fund road and rail improvements between district hubs in a bid to provide more capacity, and improved rail station gateways with more car parking capacity for park and ride.
Calderdale Council had their workers paint the ‘confusing’ bike lane, which measures roughly 8ft, on Kings Cross Road in Halifax
‘It’s so upsetting to see,’ Mr Baker added. ‘You get funding for a scheme like this through regional money, and then you see it being poorly put to use in a way that makes a mockery of these improvements.
‘They’re not improvements that are going to help cyclists sadly. It’s just a kind of gesture sign that we’re doing something but not spending the money very well.’
It comes after council bosses were earlier slammed for leaving lampposts blocking another stretch of bike lane on the same road.
Furious residents vented on Facebook about how their taxpayers’ cash had been used by the local authority.
‘Out there somewhere is someone being paid good money to come up with this idea, more worryingly is that someone out there is willing to pay good money,’ one wrote.
And another added: ‘What is the point of that? Could have spent the money fixing all the potholes everywhere! Useless waste of money!’
Adrian Gill, Calderdale Council’s Assistant Director of Strategic Infrastructure, said: ‘The new cycleway and footway improvements at King Cross aim to make it easier for people to walk and cycle in this traditionally car dominated area.
‘They form part of the A58 Corridor Improvement Programme, which is funded through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund.
According to Adrian Gill, Calderdale Council’s Assistant Director of Strategic Infrastructure, ‘the new cycleway and footway improvements at King Cross aim to make it easier for people to walk and cycle’
‘As part of the design, there is a dropped kerb that allows cyclists to safely leave the carriageway to access the shared area for pedestrians and cyclists.
‘The design markings on the dropped kerb reflect the requirement for cyclists leaving the carriageway to give way to users of the shared space. It has been designed this way due to the limited space available and its effectiveness will be reviewed in the coming months.
‘It then leads to a newly installed cycle crossing and a further stretch of cycleway at the bottom of Warley Road.
‘The cycle lane provides a segregated link for cyclists from King Cross centre to new crossings across the A646 and A58, allowing cyclists to avoid the busy King Cross junction.
‘The cycleway is bi-directional as marked and is designed to national guidance.’
MailOnline has contacted Calderdale Council for comment.
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