INCONSIDERATE motorists have been condemned for "blatantly" blocking Bradford’s brand new £29 million cycle superhighway.

Even before the official opening of the flagship route, there are fears that the "clearly-marked mandatory cycle lane" is being reduced to little more than an expensive car park.

Drivers have been spotted parking on the two-lane cycle track in Dick Lane, Thornbury, and at location in Bradford Moor over the last couple of weeks - much to the anger of some observers.

The 23km CityConnect cycle superhighway, which links Bradford and Leeds, was dubbed the 'highway to health' when it was announced.

The segregated cycleway runs from east Leeds to the Broadway Shopping Centre in Bradford city centre.

The Leeds to Bradford stretch of the cycle superhighway, CS1, will be fully opened in the week beginning June 20, while the second stage, CS2, between Seacroft and Leeds, will be complete in early July.

CityConnect said it was frustrated that people were parking on the cycle superhighway, but said it was working with the traffic enforcement teams from both Bradford and Leeds Councils and would begin cracking down on the parking "very shortly."

John Day, 34, of Dick Lane, Thornbury, said tougher parking enforcements against such drivers needed to be introduced.

He said: "It winds me up.

"To park blatantly on a cycle lane is just not on. It's craziness. They know the purpose of that lane.

"They would not leave their car in the first lane of a motorway? Bradford Council need to enforce penalty notices for parking on it. Drivers are breaching it all of the time. They are just not respectful at all.

"It's dangerous. I'm worried about an accident.

"What's the purpose of it? It's just annoying. It is defeating the purpose. It is clearly for a cycle lane.

"There are a few cars doing it every day. There are double yellow lines down there so people are parking on the cycle lane.

"It's a bike lane for bikes, not a parking bay to leave your car."

The project has been funded by the Department for Transport, Bradford and Leeds councils and transport authority Metro.

CityConnect said it will introduce no parking signs and other enforcements along the entire route "as soon as possible."

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A CityConnect spokesman said: "We know there are cases along the superhighway of people using it as a parking area which is very frustrating.

"The superhighway is a no-parking zone and the two local highway authorities will begin enforcing this very shortly.

"The enforcement order is attached to a legal process and all the signs and road marking need to be in place, the sections predominantly finished as well as residents and businesses informed before any enforcement can start.

"CityConnect have been working closely with the traffic enforcement teams and have provided them with bikes and cycle training to help accessing the route and to make the transition to enforcement as simple as possible.

"We will be publicising a date to begin enforcement as soon as possible."

Councillors have also condemned drivers for choosing to park on the multi-million pound cycle lanes.

Councillor Val Slater, Bradford Council's executive member for planning, transportation and highways, said: "It is not acceptable for people to be parking on the cycling superhighway.

"It is now clearly marked as a mandatory cycle lane and other vehicles should not be parking on there."

Councillor Mohammed Shafiq (Lab, Bradford Moor) said: "I'm aware of the difficulties residents face in terms of parking problems, but there is no reason to park on a cycle lane.

"I would urge residents not to park any vehicles on cycle lanes.

"People have to be considerate where they park their cars.

"Pretty soon we will see signs go up not to park in cycle lanes. They will also be enforced once the signs have gone up."

Councillor Riaz Ahmed (Lib Dem, Bradford Moor) said: "We will have to wait and see how it goes.

"We should only judge it once it opens. It should not happen.

"The safety of the cyclists is paramount.

"There is a limited number of parking spaces down there, but it should not happen."

But Bradford cyclists had mixed views about drivers parking on the lanes.

Adam Tasker, Cycling 4 All co-ordinator, said: "It's incredibly frustrating.

"The best solution is for drivers to be educated and learn from other people of the needs of both drivers and cyclists."

Taras Stefanysyzyn, organiser with Bradford Cycling Club, said he could understand why drivers were parking on the cycle path.

He said: "It's dangerous and it is causing the cyclists to go on the road. It has made a mockery of the cycle lane.

"I'm also a car driver and can understand it from both views. Where else are they supposed to park?"