Northern Ireland is in the midst of a push to become more cycle-friendly, as the number of journeys by bike in the province has risen in recent years.

But away from the big cities, councillors like Ballymena Deputy Mayor Hubert Nicholl fear that rural roads are too dangerous for cyclists and cycle lanes are not fit for purpose.

The Northern Ireland Department for Regional Development has drawn up a Draft Bicycle Strategy, which was recently open for public consultation.

In a discussion of Ballymena's response to the strategy, Cllr Nicholl said that cyclists were "taking their life in their hands" if they used rural roads in the borough.

The vision of the draft strategy is: “To establish a cycling culture in Northern Ireland to give people the freedom and confidence to travel by bicycle, and where all road users can safely share space with mutual respect.”

Ballymena Times reports that councillors are concerned the strategy has not been "rural proofed".

“There is a risk that this draft strategy might unintentionally become focussed on the larger cities of Belfast and Londonderry/Derry,” the council said in its reponse.

Cllr Nicholl said that the strategy needed a rural aspect because of the danger motor traffic poses to cyclists.

“You are taking your life into your hands on rural roads,” he said.

“Big lorries are passing you by at 60mph with 40ft trailers on – they just suck you in, especially if it was a youngster – they wouldn’t have a chance.”

Cycles lanes don't provide a safe refuge either, according to Mayor Audrey Wales who said that  “nine out of ten” of them were strewn with rubbish and fallen leaves.

“They are actually dangerous for our cyclists to use,” she said.