New Preston cycle lane causing "dangerous tailbacks" according to Porsche boss

Tom Fox, managing director of the Porsche Centre Preston, has hit out over the introduction of the lane along the A583 Riversway and Watery Lane between Nelson Way and Strand Road, which sees the carriageway narrowed from two lanes to one outside his garage.

He said: “I’m a keen cyclist myself. So, I applaud any initiatives to assist cycling safely. But this is dangerous and causing tailbacks on a main arterial road. I haven’t seen a single cyclist using it!

“These are difficult times for authorities to make the best decisions. But I’d encourage highways staff to take a look at it, and make sure the new measures are keeping all road users as safe as possible.”

Residents in the area have also given mixed reviews.

Posting on the Ashton and Riversway PACT site, one wrote: “Absolutely ridiculous. This road is busy enough as it is without now putting two lanes into one.”

Another person wrote: “Pointless in all honesty because I myself have not seen a single cyclist using the lanes.”

However, others defended the move, saying: “Love the idea. Would love to see more of this in the City. Well done LCC.”

Lancashire County Council said it has been working closely with district and borough councils to prioritise walking and cycling due to continued restrictions on public transport.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "The government has provided funding for emergency active travel measures such as pop-up cycle lanes to make it easier for people to cycle in recognition that capacity on public transport is much-reduced due to social distancing measures.

"These measures are temporary and part of our emergency response to help Lancashire control and recover from the coronavirus by creating safe spaces for active travel to help to prevent overcrowding on public transport.

"In some places the pop-up lanes do reduce the road space available for vehicles, and we recognise the need to balance the needs of all road users. We are monitoring their usage and keeping them under review in case we need to make any changes."

What's the future for these lanes?

Lancashire County Council also introduced pop-up lanes on Penwortham Hill, Winckley Square, Preston, and Fylde Road, Preston, as “emergency measures” to help people make short journeys on their bikes.

The lane in Winckley Square has now been removed, and it is thought others could soon follow suit.

Earlier this month a spokesman for the County Council told the Post: “There’s no intention to make them permanent features, and they couldn’t be made permanent in their current form as we’d have to present proposals and carry out full consultation before making such a significant permanent change to the highway."