Fresh anger at ‘danger’ cycle route

Jan 15 2009 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

A CYCLIST who protested against the region’s “most pointless” bike lane last night claimed it had got even worse. Consultancy boss and triathlete Karl McCracken cycles around 3,000 miles a year, either training for his next sporting challenge or commuting to meet clients.

But last April he claimed the cycle route outside the flagship new Gateshead College campus on the banks of the Tyne was the worst cycle lane in the region.

The dotted lines at either end of the new lane give the cyclist a mere 10m ride along Hawks Road.

Now he says cyclists have to “bunny-hop” a five-inch kerb to mount the pavement and continue on the cycle path.

And to add insult to injury, there are now double yellow lines over the original white markings of the cycle lane.

Gateshead Council insisted the lane was still under construction and would cater for cyclists with dropped kerbs when completed.

But Karl, 38, has posted a video on the internet highlighting what he claims are the dangers of the miniature route. Karl, who lives with wife Cathy and their six-year-old daughter Rosie in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, said: “Originally I thought it was dangerous because it was just 10m long, but now it goes off the road and on to the pavement.

“That makes it more dangerous than being on the road. It’s alarmingly narrow and then all of a sudden you have to stop to allow pedestrians to cross your path.”

And while Karl sees the funny side of his find, he is hoping to continue his quest to persuade other local authorities into providing something more than “token” provision for cyclists.

Last night he said his online video was attracting comments from across the globe from people who could not believe the “stupidity” of the planners.

He said: “The Government wants people to get cycling, but the provision to do that just isn’t there.

“I’ve had comments from all over the world. There are people in Amsterdam and Copenhagen who just can’t believe that someone would plan something like this.”

Nick Clennett, head of transport and highways for Gateshead Council, said: “This section is awaiting the completion of further development on the Baltic Business Quarter site, something which is largely outside the council’s control.

“This cycleway will be a shared footpath with cycle lane markings and dropped kerbs. However, it would have been pointless to lay the final surface – complete with lane markings – only for it to be then destroyed by heavy construction vehicles working on the proposed hotel development there.”