UK: 'World's Shortest Cycle Lane' Sends Bikes Onto Pavement, Locals Miffed

Residents in the United Kingdom have criticised the government for spending heaps of money on the 'world's shortest cycle lane' which takes almost a second to travel.

The world's shortest cycle lane is 8 ft long

This little stretch is just 8 feet long and features a lopsided rectangle with a bicycle and an arrow pointing left. This ends up directing riders onto a pedestrian pavement. The unusual-looking markings were painted on a newly tarmacked road in Birmingham city centre and intend to help cyclists navigate their way around the city during the Commonwealth games.

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Birmingham City Council claims it is not a cycle lane but 'guidance' for cyclists to dismount due to the tram tracks in Bull Street. They added that the scheme is still under construction and street signs will later be installed.

The bike riders have mentioned how these markings are a complete waste of taxpayers' money and how they are just completely useless.

Residents think it's a waste of money

32-year-old Ryan Evans from Edgbaston said: 'It's ridiculous. I don't know what's worse, the fact the cycle lane is about 8ft-long or the way it directs cyclists onto a pavement where people will be walking. Not only is it completely pointless, but it's a waste of taxpayers' money. At a time when Birmingham should be promoting itself through the Commonwealth Games, the council turn us into a laughing stock again.'

A 50-year-old man named Graham Robertson cycles from his home in Digbeth to work as an IT consultant in the city centre, said: 'I'm baffled. I cycle into the city every day and I've always thought there needs to be better cycle lanes, but not this. 'How in the hell is painting the world's shortest cycle lane going to help anyway? It's embarrassing.'

A user named Graham Young posted his disappointment on Twitter. He wrote, "Pint-sized: After a year of disruption on Corporation Street, has one of the world's shortest cycling lanes appeared on Corporation Street opposite the JD Wetherspoon pub The Square Peg?"

Pint-sized: After a year of disruption on Corporation Street, has one of the world's shortest cycling lanes appeared on Corporation Street opposite the JD Wetherspoon pub The Square Peg?@birmingham_live @CityLife_Bham @WMmetro @midlandtram @andy4wm pic.twitter.com/3qIculkHxR

¡ª Graham Young (@_grahamyoung) July 24, 2022

According to the Metro. co, a spokesperson of the Birmingham city council said: 'These do not cycle lanes but are guidance for cyclists to leave the carriageway and dismount. 'The various track alignments within the Bull Street Corporation Street delta junction mean it is not safe for cyclists remaining in the saddle to cross through these.

'As the scheme is still under construction, the road markings have been installed before the signs were put up and with the temporary stand-down of city centre metro works during the Commonwealth Games, this incomplete section is not currently open for use.'

Do you think this was a necessity?

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