A cyclist has mocked a ‘new’ cycle lane which was painted on a busy road in Wigan - claiming it isn’t even wide enough to accommodate his shoulders.
The lane has been freshly painted on Newton Road, in Lowton, and has prompted ridicule from the borough’s cycling community.
Council bosses say the lane is not new, but is in fact ten years old and the lines were ‘refreshed’ as part of routine maintenance.
Town hall chiefs are considering removing the cycle lane altogether as the road may not be wide enough to accommodate suitable road markings for cyclists.
The freshly painted line was spotted by @samuriinbred on the A572 on Friday morning.
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He tweeted: “Looks like Wigan council didn't get the memo about Greater Manchester investing in cycle infrastructure. I genuinely didn't know these were cycle lanes until now. My shoulders are wider.
“Here's a tip, if you can't fit the bike picture in the lane, it's not wide enough.”
He added: “And in case you can't tell, in that last picture, the un-tarmacked section is actual cobbles.”
Mark Tilley, Wigan Council’s assistant director for infrastructure, said the cycle lane has been in place for more than 10 years.
“As part of routine maintenance our contractor has recently refreshed the faded lines giving the appearance the mandatory lane is new,” he said.
“The future of the cycle lane is under consideration along with options if it is removed.
“Standards of safety for cycle routes are now much higher and we are committed to providing the very best infrastructure to promote cycling and walking as our recent work with TfGM and Greater Manchester’s cycling and walking tsar Chris Boardman demonstrates.
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“Connecting Leigh to St. Helens and Warrington via Newton le Willows, including safer crossings of the A580 (the East Lancs Road), is part of our longer term aspirations for our cycle network.
“Recent focus for investment has been on the short urban trips in Wigan and between Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley because this is where there is the greatest potential for generating safe walking and cycling journeys.
“In that partnership we have recently successfully completed a £2million scheme at Saddle junction and we delighted a bid of more than £14m has been made to improve cycling and walking infrastructure in Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley.”
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