A Controversial Zebra Crossing on a £17 Million Cycle Lane Sparks Outrage
Residents of Poole, near Bournemouth in Dorset, are up in arms over a new zebra crossing painted across a controversial £17 million cycle lane. The markings, which consist of only one or two stripes, have been criticized for causing confusion and potentially leading to accidents.
The strange road markings are located on a 3ft wide bike path on Ringwood Road. Cyclists are required to stop when someone is waiting to cross the path, which leads to a floating bus stop. Critics argue that this layout resembles a child’s play mat and could lead to dangerous situations.
The cycle lane, which is up to 11ft wide, is larger than the typical 10ft wide carriageway used by motorists. This has raised concerns among residents who believe the design is not practical and may create hazards for both cyclists and pedestrians.
The work on a two-mile stretch along Ringwood Road is part of a £120m project to install nearly 50 miles of new cycle lanes in southeast Dorset. The initiative, known as the “Transforming Travel” programme, aims to encourage more people to use bikes and scooters for their daily commutes.
However, opponents argue that the project is part of a “war on motorists” and claim the cycle paths are underutilized and a waste of public funds. They also point out that the new layout could make journeys more hazardous for drivers.
Justin Midgley, from the protest group BCP and Dorset Motorists, expressed his concerns about the new crossings. He said, “I think these crossings will spark confusion among the general public who will think who on earth has priority now.” He added that the mechanics of the layout are strange, as it involves crossing an active cycle lane to reach a floating bus stop.
Midgley also mentioned that similar bus stops have been investigated in London for safety reasons. He believes the entire layout is visually jazzy and confusing, and that a single stripe of white paint does not imply a pedestrian crossing without proper signage.
Local residents have also voiced their frustration with the new crossings. One resident asked, “Do the council seriously think that so many cyclists will use these cycle lanes that pedestrians must have a dedicated crossing to safely walk 3ft across them?” Others took to social media to express their anger, calling the project a “waste of money.”
Joan Dane joked, “This looks like my 2-year-old grandson’s car play mat!” while Tina Stevens commented, “Have I woken up in a parallel BCP? A crossing within a crossing on the cycle path, presumably for pedestrians to stop while the cyclists are passing.”
David Sanders added, “Who would even realise that that was meant to be a pedestrian crossing? A lawyer’s field day once people start getting injured, maimed and killed.”
Some residents suggested that the council should focus on more pressing issues, such as fixing potholes. Peter Raymont said, “It’s amazing how senseless projects can take priority over maintaining flat roads with proper surfaces totally free from surface degradation such as open potholes.”
Justin Morris added, “At some point I’m going to stop paying my council tax!! Paying for all this nonsense is b* stupid.”
Ongoing Concerns About the Cycle Lane
Motorists have previously raised several concerns about the cycle lane, claiming it is barely used and makes their journeys more hazardous. Pavement corners at junctions have been extended, forcing cars to turn almost at right angles and often swing out into the opposite carriageway.
The narrower carriageway leaves little room for motorbikes to overtake and filter in, while lorry drivers have to fold their wing mirrors in to avoid the risk of clipping oncoming traffic. There is also less space for emergency vehicles to pass through.
Questions have also been raised about the quality of materials used for the cycle lane after a 13-year-old girl suffered serious cuts to her face when the wheel of her scooter caught on loose chippings and she fell off.
BCP Council has faced criticism for its controversial cycle rules and road markings in recent years. Locals were baffled in 2024 when the council painted white cycle road markings in the middle of residential roads, confusing motorists who worried they had lost priority on the roads to cyclists.
A resident on Windham Road said, “There are no cycle lanes on this road. These signs are very confusing and all they are going to do is bring conflict between motorists and cyclists.”
The Council defended the measure at the time, saying that they were ‘wayfinding markers’ for cyclists and ‘in line with national guidelines.’ Gloucestershire Council also chimed in, stating the signs were ‘to highlight the likely position of cyclists in the carriageway.’
In 2022, BCP Council were in the news again for confusing drivers for the sake of cyclists when they told cyclists to use the whole main road rather than a dedicated 7ft wide bike lane down the busy A35 in Bournemouth. Local Donna Clarke slammed the idea as ‘utterly ridiculous, causing tailbacks, delayed emergency vehicles and frayed tempers.’
The Council defended the measures again in the name of safety and to encourage ‘sustainable travel.’ Now, BCP Council have taken up their defence of the new cycle lane and its strange zebra crossing in Poole, saying it was designed to ‘ensure the safety of pedestrians’ and not to please motorists.
