Olympic champion Chris Boardman lashes out at design of city's cycling superhighway

The junction of Grange Avenue and Dick Lane at Thornbury roundabout has been highlighted by critics who say the layout forces riders to give way to turning traffic from the three-lane gyratory and its two lane format is too narrow.

The 23km CityConnect cycling super highway, which links Bradford and Leeds and is due to open fully in December, was dubbed the 'highway to health' when it was announced.

But Mandy Parker, 54, a coach at East Bradford Cycling Club, said: "It's going to be lethal.

"Having a two-way cycling lane there is not the best policy. The path is not wide enough.

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"It needs to be looked at properly. It needs to be done the right way. It looks very confusing.

"The Dick Lane junction looks dangerous."

Mrs Parker called on the designers to re-think the junction by giving cyclists priority as they enjoy in many other European countries.

"When we have pedestrians, cars and cyclists all using the junction it could cause difficulties," she said.

"We need to learn from the designs used in the Netherlands."

Mr Boardman, who won an individual pursuit cycling gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, called the layout of the junction outdated.

He said: "This could be so much better in its design and should encourage people to use it.

"You have to ask yourself, would you let your children use this track?

"It makes cyclists stop and give way to motorised vehicles.

"I don't think it's dangerous, but it stops people and prioritises motor traffic.

"I would urge them to think hard and think what would encourage people to use the cycle paths.

"Cyclists need a route that is as uninterrupted as possible. They are the best designs - but I would applaud the local council for putting it in and actually doing it."

Transport charity Sustrans is also opposed to the layout.

Its Yorkshire spokesman said: "I can't recall the specific example of Dick Lane/Grange Avenue ever being discussed in advisory group meetings.

"We certainly spent a lot of time and effort, over the course of a year, arguing for the principles of priority, safety and convenience. None of which this achieves."

Lizzie Reather, the CTC councillor for Yorkshire and the Humber, also tweeted: "Is there a good reason for the superhighway not to have priority here?"

And the Alternative Transport Blog stated: “This project should be put on hold now, and a thorough appraisal made before it is open for use by the public.”

The project is being funded by the Department for Transport, Bradford and Leeds councils and transport authority Metro.

Construction work began in January this year.

Fourteen miles of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath is also being upgraded between Shipley and Kirkstall as part of the overall scheme.

CityConnect, which is running the project, yesterday said it is planning a meeting to discuss the design and insisted it will listen to the cyclists' criticisms.

Ginny Leonard, CityConnect programme communications and engagement manager, said: "We understand the strength of feeling surrounding this issue and that people expect a response.

"We have a meeting planned in the near future that will involve key user groups including CTC, Sustrans, local cycle campaigns, Bradford highways and the CityConnect design team.

"We don’t want to rush this process and it’s important that all groups have their voices heard.

"One of the strengths of the CityConnect programme to date has been its ability to bring together all sections of the community to inform the implementation of this ambitious project, and we are keen that this continues."