Baffled residents slam council for spending thousands on ‘the world’s shortest cycle lane’ which is just 8ft- longThe white marking in Birmingham city centre directs cyclists onto the pavementBut residents have branded it ‘ridiculous’ and ‘a waste of taxpayers’ money’Birmingham City Council claim it is not a cycle lane but ‘guidance’ for cyclists
Residents have blasted a council for spending thousands on ‘the world’s shortest cycle lane’, which takes less than a second to travel along.
The white-painted stretch is just 8ft-long and features a lopsided rectangle with a bicycle and an arrow pointing left, directing riders onto a pedestrian pavement.
The bizarre road marking was painted on a newly tarmacked road in Birmingham city centre and intends to help cyclists navigate their way around the city during the Commonwealth games.
Birmingham City Council claim it is not a cycle lane but ‘guidance’ for cyclists to dismount due to the tram tracks in Bull Street.
A new road marking in Birmingham has been described as ‘the world’s shortest cycle lane’
They added that the scheme is still under construction and street signs will later be installed.
However, bike riders have branded the markings ‘completely pointless’ and a ‘waste of taxpayers’ money’.
Shop worker Ryan Evans, 32, from Edgbaston, said: ‘It’s ridiculous.
‘I don’t know what’s worse, the fact the cycle lane is about 8ft-long or the way it directs cyclists onto a pavement where people will be walking.
‘Not only is it completely pointless, but it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money.
‘At a time when Birmingham should be promoting itself through the Commonwealth Games, the council turn us into laughing stock again.’
Dad-of-two Graham Robertson, 50, who cycles from his home in Digbeth to work as an IT consultant in the city centre, said: ‘I’m baffled.
‘I cycle into the city every day and I’ve always thought there needs to be better cycle lanes, but not this.
‘How in the hell is painting the world’s shortest cycle lane going to help anyway? It’s embarrassing.’
Birmingham City Council insist that the painted stretch of road, which resembles a cycle lane, is actually ‘guidance’ for cyclists to dismount
Graham Young posted on Twitter: ‘Pint-sized: After a year of disruption on Corporation Street, has one of the world’s shortest cycling lanes appeared on Corporation Street opposite the JD Wetherspoon pub The Square Peg?’
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: ‘These are not cycle lanes but are guidance for cyclists to leave the carriageway and dismount.
‘The various track alignments within the Bull Street Corporation Street delta junction mean it is not safe for cyclists remaining in the saddle to cross through these.
‘As the scheme is still under construction, the road markings have been installed before the signs were put up and with the temporary stand down of city centre metro works during the Commonwealth Games, this incomplete section is not currently open for use.’
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