A MOTORIST has accused Bradford Council of operating a "dangerous" and potentially deadly bus lane.

Graeme Raisbeck believes the local authority has placed making money ahead of the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, in regard to a restriction on Huddersfield Road, Low Moor.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: (11107484)

The 46-year-old raised the issue after getting fined for entering the bus lane as he prepared to turn left into Netherlands Avenue.

The bus lane runs towards Low Moor from Odsal fire station and breaks at two traffic-light-controlled pedestrian crossings before Netherlands Avenue. But although the first break has clear end and start markings, the second does not.

Mr Raisbeck pointed out there were no markings or signs to tell motorists that the lane had ended, and no markings to direct drivers from the right lane to the left so they could safely enter Netherlands Avenue without having to make a last-minute, 90-degree turn after the zigzag lines of the crossing.

He also highlighted that, despite having no end point, the bus lane had a clear re-starting point after Netherlands Avenue.

On the opposite side of Huddersfield Road, and at another turning into another section of Netherlands Avenue, a bus lane without an enforcement camera has 'End' clearly marked on the road.

"This is not about saving a £30 fine," said Mr Raisbeck, who saw an elderly motorist narrowly miss hitting a cyclist as he attempted a last-second left turn.

"It's a safety issue and a negligence or entrapment issue around the road markings that take the bus lane up to or through a pedestrian crossing.

"I'm sure many Bradfordians have been and will be duped here on this junction - and worse still somebody will get killed in time, because of the confusion."

Mr Raisbeck, of Cleckheaton, was caught by the bus lane camera on Wednesday, August 27 at 5.58pm - the bus lane enforcement operates Monday to Friday between 4pm and 6.30pm.

He said: "I do not drive in bus lanes as Bradford Council mixes 24-hour, 4pm to 6.30pm, and various other mixed time bus lanes, so I avoid them at all times. So I was surprised to find myself in a bus lane camera photo returning home from Wibsey."

He investigated and concluded: "I found the bus lane to be illegally marked, to have no end point even though road colourings indicated a two-lane approach to the pelican crossing prior to the usual zigzag crossing lines.

"I entered prior to the crossing's zigzag lines, crossing the single white line marking the bus lane inside the dual lane crossing approach. I did this because I was approaching a crossing and 29 years of driving has taught me to get into left lanes at lights when turning left."

He added: "I tried to get safely into lane before the crossing zigzags, and Bradford Council want to charge me £60 for that, or £30 if I pay quickly and go quietly into the night."

The council said it did not comment on individual cases, but in a letter to Mr Raisbeck, rejecting his appeal against the fine, the local authority said "all road markings and signage conform to current legislation".