A COUNCILLOR has described cycle lanes in part of the District as the worst he has ever come across.

The cycle lanes on North Street in Keighley town centre were particularly singled out for criticism when members of Bradford Council’s Keighley Area Committee discussed road safety at its most recent meeting.

They were being presented with an annual report on casualty figures and work being done to make Bradford’s roads safer.

Members were told that, overall, there had been a steady decrease in the number of people injured in crashes on Bradford’s roads.

In 2018 there were 1,291 casualties on Bradford’s roads, down from 1,366 the previous year and down from 1,966 in 2012.

They included 242 pedestrians and 812 car occupants.

The figures were discussed at a meeting in Keighley Town Hall on Thursday evening, and the issue of cycling safety was raised by members.

Councillor Paul Godwin (Lab, Keighley West) pointed out that the number of cyclists injured in collisions was still relatively high - 102 cyclists were injured in 2018.

Although there was a general fall in recent years, it is only down from 122 in 2012.

He said: “We have a problem and there is no real evidence it is getting better.

“There was recently some criticism in a national survey saying the UK doesn’t have adequate cycle facilities on our roads.

“The cycle infrastructure in Keighley is some of the worst I’ve come across. The cycling routes on North Street in particular is something we need to address.”

He said some cycle lanes in the town came to an abrupt end at pedestrian crossings, while others are regularly blocked by parked cars.

Cycle lanes on North Street, one of Keighley’s busiest roads, are just painted on, and in some areas require cyclists to ride between two lanes of traffic.

Councillor Russell Brown (Cons, Worth Valley) said that when cycle lanes were merely painted on, rather than segregated, motorists felt they could drive “right up” to cyclists.

He added: “That is something we may need to think about over the next couple of years.”

Members were told that work would start in the coming weeks to educate motorists about the need to give cyclists enough space, with West Yorkshire Police bringing its “safe pass” campaign to Bradford.

Sue Snoddy, Team Leader for Road Safety at Bradford Council, told members that Council officers and police work with schools to provide road safety advice to children.

These included theatre productions and workshops on the issue of road safety. There is particular focus on delivering programmes to 11 year old children, who become more independent and are more likely to travel to school on their own as they leave primary and enter secondary education.

The report into road safety is being presented to each of the District’s five Area Committees, and also went before the Bradford West Area Committee on Wednesday evening.

At that meeting Councillor Sinead Engel (Lab, Clayton and Fairweather Green) said: “A reduction in injuries would be good on its own, but when you take into account the increase in population in Bradford then it is even more impressive.”