A DAD has been left baffled after his local council painted the “smallest cycle lane ever” on a busy main road.
Ray McSharry, 65, said he thought the new lane was “graffiti” when he first spotted it and branded it “ridiculous”.
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Ray, from Calderdale, West Yorkshire, uploaded a photo of the strange, seven-foot long cycle lane to a local Facebook group and questioned if anyone from the council could justify it.
The post was met with much amusement from residents, who suggested the purpose of the new lane could be anything from “pram parking” to a “semi-circle bike track”.
Some even joked that it had been painted by famous street artists Banksy as some kind of prank.
Ray said: “Everybody thought that they were widening King Cross [during the roadworks], but instead a cycle path was unveiled.
“I thought it was graffiti at first. Then I realised that it’s not graffiti; someone has actually done this professionally…It looks like the smallest cycle lane ever.
“There’s nothing separating cyclists from pedestrians. It’s an accident waiting to happen.
“It’s made things more unsafe. Buses won’t drive there anymore because it’s such a dangerous road.
“I think we all feel like the council could put their money into more valuable things, especially in the cost of living crisis.”
He added that the new mini cycle path sits opposite a 200-meter equivalent that was already in use.
The local council, meanwhile, have insisted that the new lane is a necessary feature to make it safer for cyclists to turn off the road.
They did, however, admit that its usefulness would be reviewed in the coming months.
Adrian Gill, Calderdale Council’s Assistant Director – 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.
“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.
“he 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.”
He added that the larger cycle lane that Ray referred is perfectly safe and has been built according to national guidance.
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