A ‘confusing’ new cycle lane at a road junction has been installed, as furious locals have slammed the design – comparing it to a ‘mini labyrinth’.
The new junction near to Bury Town Hall, Greater Manchester, features multiple give way markings for cyclists at the junction where the A56 meets the A58.
The new Cycle Optimised Protected Signals (Cyclops) junction was built as part of a £1million public fund, but has now been branded a ‘waste of money’ by social media users.
The bizarre layout – which has three give way points, six entrances and a mini set of traffic lights – is meant to ‘separate pedestrians and cyclists from motor traffic’. It also features two zebra crossings.
Locals have vented out their anger at the ‘unsafe crossing point’, adding that the council had not considered how visually impaired people will navigate their way through it.
The new junction in Bury which has been built for cyclists and to encourage locals to walk and cycle more, located at the junction where the A56 meets the A58
The new Cycle Optimised Protected Signals (Cyclops) junction – built using part of a £1million public fund – was branded ‘a waste of money’ by taxpayers in Bury, Greater Manchester
However, the Labour-run authority hopes that this junction is the start of several projects, that are aimed at improving ‘all forms of journeys’ across the Greater Manchester Region.
Local Lewis Miles, 58, who was walking along the road this morning said: ‘It’s been a complete mess from start to finish.
‘The money could have been used elsewhere, fixing pot holes and things like that. I don’t think the council have been upfront about it.
‘It’s complicated, and it’s caused too much traffic. It would be dangerous to people who are blind or partially sited – we have just nearby the society for the blind building in the area.’
The 58-year-old local added that he does not think cyclists will be using the lane, given how complicated it is. He explained: ‘I’ve been coming this way for a long time, and while they’ve been doing the road works, I’ve had to cross some times in the traffic.
‘I don’t think people will use the cycle lane. I’ve just been on the footpath, and one of the cyclists was using that. ‘
And photograph of the junction was posted on the Spotted:Radcliffe Facebook page with the caption: “New road layout near the town hall. This is how funding is being used by Bury Council. I’m confused.”
The post hundreds of likes and responses, with many social media users and locals saying that they though the junction was a ‘April Fool’s Day joke’.
The layout – which has three give way points, six entrances and a mini set of traffic lights – has left residents worried about the route’s safety, particularly for those with sight issues
The Labour-run authority hopes it’s one of several projects that improves “all forms of journeys” across the Greater Manchester Region.
One person wrote: ‘Absolute joke, the money spent by this Labour council is astounding!!!
‘Next they will be buying bikes for everyone, I drive along this route about 4 times a day & seen more gazelles than bike riders.
And another agreed saying: ‘Seriously just showed this my husband who is a cyclist and he’s just laughed and said what a waste of money that’s not going to be worth what they’ve spent on it.
‘I personally thought it was an April fools joke and remember that was yesterday.’
While a local mum wrote: ‘Went to Bury on Thursday morning, dropped my Daughter off at college.
‘I didn’t see one cyclist on the road and the same back at 3pm! Waste of money and causing traffic to bottleneck from Jubilee Way into Bury centre.’
Meanwhile other residents have been left worried about the route’s safety, particularly for those with sight issues.
One person wrote on social media: ‘As usual they did not think how visually impaired people might have difficulty navigating a mini labyrinth.
‘One more unsafe crossing point to add to the list.’
Another put: ‘Absolutely ridiculous and dangerous for motorists and cyclists. The road narrows too quickly once through the traffic lights going towards Holy Cross College.
‘Someone will be seriously injured!’ Whoever designed this junction needs to be sacked and so should the Counsellors who agreed to it.
‘If only we had a choice whether we paid our Council Tax or Road Tax!’
A spokesperson from Bury Council said the new junction was part of a regional development plan to help connect communities across Greater Manchester.
They said: ‘The works to construct the new Cyclops junction at Angouleme Way in Bury form part of the Bee Network that is being funded by Transport for Greater Manchester.
‘This is a region wide initiative to improve all forms of journey by connecting communities together making it easier, safer, and more attractive for people to travel on foot or bike for everyday trips.
‘This particular junction is crossed by hundreds of students every day on their way to St Gabriel’s, Bury Church and Bury Grammar schools.
‘The revised layout will make it easier and safer for them to walk or cycle from one side to the other.
‘The cost of the scheme is in the region of £1,000,000 and represents a significant investment by TfGM in their commitment to promote Active Travel.’
