Moment where cyclist is caught on camera brazenly ignoring Britain’s widest cycle path while instead riding a lane designated for other traffic
- The female motorcyclist pedals on the narrow B road in Wimborne, Dorset
- The highway has been slimmed down to make way for the 11ft 2in bike path
- The man who took the photo claims he sees cyclists ignoring the track every day
This is when a cyclist brazenly ignores one of Britain’s most controversial cycle paths to the fury of motorists.
The female motorcyclist pedals on the side of the narrow B road in Wimborne, Dorset, which has been slimmed down to make way for the 3.5m wide cycleway.
To get around her, a van has to pull into the opposite lane.
Cars, lorries, buses and emergency vehicles on the B3073 have narrower 9ft 5in lanes since the cycle path was built two years ago.
Ollie Frampton, 25, a car salesman who took the photo, claims he sees cyclists ignoring the lane every day.
The female motorcyclist pedals on the side of the narrow B road which has been slimmed down to make way for the 11ft 9in wide bike path
Cars, lorries, buses and emergency vehicles on the B3073 in Wimborne, Dorset have narrower 9ft 5in wide lanes since the cycle path was built two years ago
Ollie Frampton, 25, a car salesman who took the photo, claims he sees cyclists ignoring the lane every day
Mr Frampton said some cyclists had told him it was because of the quality of the road surface.
The cycleway is part of a £120 million program that aims to make travel more sustainable and reduce congestion across the county.
It is one of four routes being built in Dorset, co-funded by £100m from the government’s Rebuilding Cities programme.
Mr Frampton added: ‘When you consider the amount of time and money spent on the cycle path, you have to laugh that cyclists don’t use it.
“I see them ignoring it and going on the Autobahn every day, I think because they say the bike path isn’t good enough.
“I see the funny side, but a lot of drivers are really frustrated and it’s a nightmare when there are roadworks.
‘Sometimes ambulances have to use the cycle paths because there is not enough passage.’
The cycle path is part of a major £120 million project which aims to make travel more sustainable and reduce traffic congestion across the county
It is one of four routes to be built in Dorset, funded in part by £100m from the government’s Rebuilding Cities program
An irate local resident called for fines for cyclists not using the expensive paths
He posted the photo on social media, sparking heated reactions from motorists and cyclists alike.
Janet Burrow wrote: ‘I was in a traffic jam entering Wimborne and slowly following a cyclist on the road along a goddamn 20 foot cycle track.’
Another local resident called for fines for cyclists who ‘don’t use the expensive paths’.
Rachel Ralph said: ‘Hopefully they’ll pass a law soon that if there’s a bike path, it must be used, otherwise you’ll be fined, cyclists wanted these expensive trails and don’t use them.
‘Money can be well spent elsewhere.’
But another commenter blamed the council for not properly maintaining the track.
Martyn Sheppard wrote: ‘Maybe if the bike lanes were swept/cleaned up, more cyclists would use them?
“(This one is) covered in grit and road debris as far as I can see in the photo.”
Dorset Council has been approached for comment.