New cycle lane in Manchester's Portland Street removed amid safety concerns

I used to live in Chorley and cycle to/from Manchester for work. It's saying something when 20 miles of the A6 was preferable and less dangerous than the two miles I suffered in central Manchester.

Poorly-planned roadworks, seemingly taking place all at the same time; bus lanes that appear to be designed without any thought for cyclists, cars OR buses; pedestrians walking straight into the middle of the road to avoid endless obstacles on the pavements; road surfaces that wouldn't look out of place in Iraq; traffic lights phased by someone on acid - the list is endless

It seems to me that there is a systemic flaw in our highways departments, which is that they have absolutely no idea how to design properly for cyclists, and they certainly don't listen to cyclists.  I made this point at the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy consultation meeting in Bristol last week, that unless they train the planners, most of the tiny amount of money they are proposing to spend on it will be wasted.

I also made the point that they have to listen to consultation, as my council, SGlos, regularly consults, and then does exactly what it proposed in the first place, and there is nothing you can do about it.  There has to be some method of holding councils to account for failing to follow their own policies and failing to listen to consultation.

I travel to Manchester for work pretty regularly.

It is massively polluted for such a small city. The road conditions are absolutely terrible as well. If the council were really serious about safety they could simply start with a road resurfacing programme. That would go a long way to giving cyclists a choice over the physical space on the road they can safely occupy. As it is, most of them look as though they are having to zigzag from one strip of smoth road to another, doging traffic and potholes on the way.

Manchester is pretty unpleasant as a pedestrian as well, with complex and confusing road layouts and very few options to cross streets in one go.

Quote:

Removing this section of cycle lane was a simple change that we feel provides more flexibility for cyclists and drivers at a point in the highway where bikes and buses interact closely.

Just what I want when I'm on a bike, it's my favourite part of any ride - close interaction with a bus... 

I cycle down there every weekday on my way to Oldham, both before the lanes were added and after. There was no improvement at all but I'm not suprised, it seems to me that all the 'cycle lanes' created by Manchester council are little more than bus priority packages, they're just misappropriating cycle funds.

None of this comes as any suprise, every morning the mandatory cycle lane on Oxford road is parked on by an articulated lorry and the corner by the casino parked on by taxis, there is no enforecement in Manchester and no decent lanes.

Take the lane, it's your only option

This is Manchester City Council don't forget, who designed such brilliant features as a Velodrome with no easy access for cyclists.  They're absolutely addicted to cars, they won't close major thoroughfares like Deansgate (which has a very close dual carriageway ring road) because they're too frightened.  The city has massive pollution problems from standing buses around Piccadilly Gardens, and don't even start on the gardens and the massive grey wall that EVERYONE hates...

Kate Chappell doesn't sound like the sharpest tool in the box.

I am so glad that councils listen to the public, and don't just plough on regardless and waste money...