A new cycle path has been branded a ‘deathtrap’ that pits cyclists against pedestrians due to its complicated layout and lack of adequate signage.
The cycle lane on Longport Road in Canterbury, Kent, also switches sides and blocks off the entrance to an historic abbey, sparking fury from locals.
And, according to the National Federation of the Blind (NFBUK), the route is so dangerous they raised concerns over it a year ago – before it had even been built.
A consultation in November 2022 found the designs were ‘dangerous, discriminatory and are a deathtrap for any blind or visually impaired pedestrian’, but the council still pressed ahead with it anyway.
It added: ‘The designs bring cyclists directly into conflict with any pedestrian using the pavement and pedestrian crossing.
Pictured, an aerial view of the ‘confusing’ cycle lane which residents blast as ‘a waste of money’
Experts have warned the lane could pose a risk to people who are blind or partially sighted
‘They also bring any pedestrian into direct conflict with the explosion of people now using e-bikes, e-scooters, e-unicycles, e-cargo bikes and delivery bikes, many of which are illegal and illegally modified, ridden at speed with no consideration at all for any pedestrians.’
Kent County Council said the lane, which was designed in consultation with Active Travel England, would encourage new and less confident cyclists as well as slow vehicles down.
Currently, the lane widths are said to be temporary while construction works take place.
However, locals are less impressed by the new design, with many fearing it could cause a potentially life-threatening accident.
Some hailed the cycle lane on Longport as the ‘best in Britain’ but most condemned the bright-red path as ‘confusing’ and a ‘waste of money’.
Peter And Manuela Schrummel From Munich said the cycle lane was ‘confusing’ as there were no signs
‘It’s an accident waiting to happen,’ local businesswoman Christine Moore, 74, told MailOnline.
‘Everyone who lives around here is totally flummoxed by the thing.
‘The cycle lane goes right up to the entrance of St Augustine Abbey across the road where people go with their children or to walk their dogs.
‘So, people come out of the Abbey grounds and straight into the path of a bicycle. It’s ridiculous.’
Factory worker Darius Luidokas found himself cycling against the oncoming traffic.
Darius, 47, told MailOnline: ‘I don’t know where I am meant to be cycling.
‘I came on to the right-hand side of the road because I want to turn right up the road a bit.’
German cyclists Marcus and Heike Naff also found themselves riding on the wrong side of the road.
Marcus told MailOnline: ‘It’s so confusing. We had no idea which side of the road we were meant to be cycling on. ‘There are no signs, nothing.’
Glazier Ken Beaton risked injury as he strolled down the middle of the bike path with his back to approaching cyclists.
Mr Beaton, 47, from Ramsgate, said: ‘I had no idea I was walking down a cycle lane. It’s so confusing.’
The cycle lane goes right up to the entrance of St Augustine Abbey across the road where people go with their children or to walk their dogs
Dutch holidaymakers Jan Dankbaar and Carnen Meckling also put themselves in danger by walking in the cycle lane.
Jan told MailOnline: ‘It’s very confusing. We didn’t know where to walk. And it is dare-devilish to cross over between the lanes!’
Cyclists Peter and Manuela Schrummel from Munich took up both the cycle path and pavement.
Peter said: ‘To be honest we didn’t know which lane we were supposed to take. It’s very confusing as there are no signs.’
Pedestrian Allyson Konwinski, 61, condemned the whole project as a ‘waste of money’.
Glazier Ken Beaton, 47, said he ‘had no idea’ that he was walking down the middle of a cycle lane
Allyson, from Broadstairs who works in Canterbury, told MailOnline:’ What the hell have they done?
‘It’s a total waste of money. It takes over the pavement so there’s hardly anywhere to walk and takes half of the road.’
However, the bright-red cycle path was hailed as the ‘best cycle lane’ in Britain by the Woerle family from Austria who are visiting Canterbury on holiday.
Mum Elizabeth Woerle, 49, said: ‘This is the best cycle lane we have found since we arrived in England.
‘Most of the time you have to share the road with lorries and buses and cars – it’s so dangerous.
‘I don’t understand why there are not more cycle lanes in Britain. You have so much flat land but you do not seem to use it properly.’
Local mother Laura Christy, 31, agreed, saying: ‘I like to ride my bike so I’m in favour of having more cycle lanes in Canterbury but no one knows how it works as there are no signs.
Sarah Gayton for the National Federation of the Blind (NFBUK) told Mail Online: ‘This ridge type of kerbing is not sufficient in an urban street to tell a person with little or no sight using a guide dog or a long cane for navigation, whether they are walking on the pedestrian side of the line or not.
‘There are people with difficulty reading which side of the line it is safe for them to walk on.’
‘The science says clearly that the traditional vertical kerb can be detected as an edge to the pavement side by everyone, and by all guide dogs and long cane users providing it is 60mm high.
She added: ‘The dropped kerb crossing pictured is not yet equipped with the pedestrian controlled signals, rotating button and pole-mounted sensors to hold the traffic at red until everybody is across, which go with this standard colour and shape of tactile tiles which are laid to show a blind or other disabled person where there is such a controlled crossin
‘The cycle lane runs behind the location of the pedestrian crossing which is extremely dangerous as it cyclists or people using e-devices will not have to stop at green man pedestrian crossing.’
A Kent County Council (KCC) spokesperson said: ‘The proposed cycle lane along Longport has been designed to encourage new and less confident cyclists into the area whilst maintaining clear pedestrian routes.
‘The current lane widths and alignment are temporary while the construction works take place.
‘The scheme has been designed – in consultation with Active Travel England – to slow vehicles down by reducing the carriageway widths, providing sufficient space for two HGVs to pass.
‘The final lane widths will be completed once the road has been resurfaced which are planned to take place by November 2023.’
