A ‘confusing’ new bike path has been built at an intersection as irate locals have criticized the design, comparing it to a ‘mini labyrinth’.
The new junction near Bury Town Hall, Greater Manchester has multiple cyclist priority markings at the junction where the A56 meets the A58.
The new Cycle Optimized Protected Signals (Cyclops) node was built as part of a £1 million public fund, but has now been labeled a ‘waste of money’ by social media users.
The bizarre layout – with three priority points, six entrances and a mini set of traffic lights – is intended to ‘separate pedestrians and cyclists from car traffic’. It also features two pedestrian crossings.
Local residents have expressed anger at the ‘unsafe crossing’, adding that the council had not considered how visually impaired people would navigate through it.
The new interchange in Bury built for cyclists and to encourage local people to walk and cycle more, located at the junction where the A56 meets the A58
The new Cycle Optimized Protected Signals (Cyclops) interchange – built with part of a £1 million public fund – was labeled a ‘waste of money’ by taxpayers in Bury, Greater Manchester
However, the Labour-run authority hopes this hub is the start of several projects aimed at improving ‘all forms of travel’ in the Greater Manchester area.
Local Lewis Miles, 58, walking down the road this morning said: ‘It’s been a complete mess from start to finish.
“The money could have been used elsewhere, repairing potholes and things like that. I don’t think the council has been open about this.
“It’s complicated and it causes too much traffic. It would be dangerous for people who are blind or have difficulty walking – we have a building for the blind nearby.”
The 58-year-old resident added that he doesn’t think cyclists will use the track given its complexity. He explained: ‘I’ve been coming this way for a long time, and while they were doing roadworks I’ve had to cross a few times in traffic.
‘I don’t think people will use the bike path. I’ve just been on the footpath, and one of the cyclists was using it. ‘
And a photo of the junction was posted to the Spotted:Radcliffe Facebook page with the caption: “New road layout near Town Hall. This is how the funding is being used by Bury Council. I’m confused.”
They posted hundreds of likes and comments, with many social media users and local residents saying they thought the crossing was an “April Fool’s Day joke.”
The layout – with three right-of-way points, six entrances and a mini-set of traffic lights – has raised concerns among residents about the safety of the route, especially for those with vision problems
The Labour-led authority hopes it is one of many projects improving “all forms of travel” in the Greater Manchester area.
One person wrote: ‘Absolute joke, the money spent by this Labor Council is astounding!!!
‘Then they start buying bicycles for everyone, I ride along this route about 4 times a day and see more gazelles than cyclists.
And another concurred, ‘Seriously I just showed this to my husband who is a cyclist and he just laughed and said what a waste of money that won’t be worth what they spent on it.
“I personally thought it was an April Fool’s joke and remember that was yesterday.”
While a local mum wrote: ‘Went to Bury Thursday morning, dropped my daughter off at university.
‘I didn’t see a cyclist on the road and at 3pm the same back! Waste of money and traffic disruption from Jubilee Way to the center of Bury.’
Meanwhile, other residents are concerned about the safety of the route, especially for people with vision problems.
One person wrote on social media: “As usual, they didn’t realize that visually impaired people would have trouble navigating a mini labyrinth.
“Another unsafe crossing to add to the list.”
Another said: ‘Absolutely ridiculous and dangerous for motorists and cyclists. The road narrows once too quickly through the traffic lights towards Holy Cross College.
“Someone will be seriously hurt!” Whoever designed this node should be fired, and so should the consultants who agreed to it.
“If only we could choose whether to pay the council tax or the road tax!”
A spokesman for Bury Council said the new interchange is part of a regional development plan to link communities in Greater Manchester.
They said: ‘The works to build the new Cyclops junction on Angouleme Way in Bury are part of the Bee Network funded by Transport for Greater Manchester.
“This is a regional initiative to improve all forms of travel by connecting communities, making it easier, safer and more attractive for people to travel on foot or by bicycle for daily commutes.
‘This particular junction is crossed by hundreds of students every day on their way to St Gabriel’s, Bury Church and Bury Grammar schools.
‘The new layout makes it easier and safer for them to walk or cycle from one side to the other.
‘The cost of the scheme is approximately £1,000,000 and represents a significant investment from TfGM in their commitment to promoting Active Travel.’
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