A CYCLE junction set to be completed later this month will confuse bikers and turn the city centre into “an obstacle course”, a resident has said.
Mary Felgate, 63, said the junction between Head Street and North Hill – which should be ready for cyclists and motorists by Friday, April 26 – lacks joined-up thinking.
She said: “It’s just confusing – it gives cyclists the right of way, which is fine, but one of the lanes cuts right out in front of people going down North Hill.
“It’s just a ruse to drive motorists out of the town centre.
“Colchester town centre is an obstacle course that changes every single moment – you’ve got cycle lanes going backwards and forwards and a lane that cuts in front of motorists coming down Head Street.
“Where’s the joined-up thinking?”
Once the 3.5-metre-wide lane is finished, it will allow cyclists to travel in both directions along Head Street, which is a one-way street for motor vehicles.
But not everyone is showing the same apathy towards the new lane.
Terence Davis, 87, of St John’s estate, said: “Personally, I think it’s too wide – it’s holding up all the traffic.
“But I suppose the cycle lanes can be good in a way, because my two sons do a hell of a lot of cycling.”
Ian, a Deliveroo cyclist, is happy about the increased cycling infrastructure coming to the city, but was frustrated about how long it had taken to implement.
He said: “It will be great when it’s open, but it’s just taking so long to get to that stage.
“There’s a lot of cycling infrastructure, it’s generally in the places you want it to be, and it’s well marked up so people seem to use it a lot.
“People will get used to them – they will adapt and we will all just get on with it.”
Bee Sawyer, a keen cyclist, agreed.
She said: “I love it because I cycle to town.
“I don’t like the busy traffic, especially in Lexden Road.
“Drivers are just in a hurry and don’t care about cycling, so yes [I’m happy with the cycle lane], though non-cyclists probably aren’t very happy.”
Essex County Council did respond before going to print.
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