Liverpool Council is facing a backlash against its decision to scrap one of its pop-up cycle lanes - including from some of its own councillors.
Yesterday the council's ne w cabinet member for climate change, the environment and transport, Cllr Dan Barrington, announced that the inbound route of the West Derby Road cycle lane would be scrapped.
The pop-up lane has proved controversial, with local councillors and residents saying it has caused more congestion and was brought in with little to no consultation.
Read more: Council scraps controversial cycle lane
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Making the announcement yesterday, Cllr Barrington said: “I’ve had a number of concerns since the pop-up cycle lane on West Derby Road was first introduced. It was brought in without consultation with local residents, businesses and councillors.
"It has caused major congestion and has disadvantaged bus users along this route."
He said that while a review of the wider pop-up cycle lane was ongoing, a recent sink hole in the Prescot Road area had forced him to take this decision early.
While some have welcomed the decision, the council has been heavily criticised by others and accused of abandoning its commitment to tackle climate change.
Heavy criticism came from city councillor Sharon Connor, the former cabinet member for transport.
She tweeted: "Extremely disappointed with this decision.
"A lot of planning, consultation and hard work has taken place to introduce seven new cycling routes to bring about behaviour change and enable active travel across our city. This feels like a step backwards."
On Twitter, former Brookside actor Simon O'Brien, who is the Liverpool City Region cycling and walking commissioner, also expressed his frustration at the decision.
He said: "There were over 98,000 cycle journeys on the West Derby Road temporary cycle lane in Liverpool between July 20 and July 21.
"Bus times on the route not affected. The Public weren’t consulted on toxic air levels. Let’s be straight this is about cars again, sigh."
He later tweeted in response to a reply to clarify the figures he referred to were for the period from July 2020 and July 2021.
Liam Kelly, chair of the Baltic Triangle added: "Super embarrassing for Liverpool Council's literal climate change emergency cabinet member closing cycle lanes because drivers are sad.
"How do you square that circle?"
But others said Cllr Barrington's decision was the correct one.
Fellow city councillor Patrick Hurley said: "This is the right decision. Well done to all concerned. Car driving is inelastic; raising the cost of driving cars in order to tempt people onto bicycles doesn’t work. Much better to reduce the cost of alternatives, and work with communities to reduce the need for urban travel."
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