Cyclists have claimed a £1m shake-up for one of Norwich's busiest roads will make the street more dangerous for people on two wheels.
They have accused Norfolk County Council of "ignoring cyclists" with plans to revamp Queens Road.
Council leaders say the work will improve access to the city's bus station, bringing benefits to bus passengers and pedestrians.
Proposals include the creation of a short length of bus lane on Queens Road for buses turning left.
The cycle lane in Queens Road will disappear when a new bus lane is installed, with cyclists not allowed to use it (Image: Denise Bradley)
At the moment, there is a short section of painted cycle lane from St Stephens Roundabout to the bus station turn, with an advanced stop area for cyclists at the traffic lights.
Proposals for Queens Road in Norwich (Image: Norfolk County Council)
But, under the proposals, those would vanish and, unusually for Norwich, cyclists would not be allowed to go into the new bus lane.
Derek Williams, from Norwich Cycling Campaign (Image: Derek Williams)
Derek Williams, spokesman for the Norwich Cycling Campaign said: "Once again Norfolk County Council is ignoring cyclists.
"We understand this is a project intended to provide better access to the bus station for buses, but, as it stands, it makes an already difficult road more dangerous for cycling and that is unacceptable.
"There should at least be a marked route for riders to follow, together with the retention of the advanced stop line at the lights.
“The plan is irresponsible, dangerous and not properly thought through.”
READ MORE: Norwich Cycling Campaign slams roads shake-up secrecy
Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport (Image: Jamie Honeywood)
Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said: “One of the main aims of this scheme is to improve bus journey times into the bus station, but there are also improvements to pedestrian access and cycle parking as part of the project.
“The new short section of bus lane will be for buses only because it is to provide access into the station itself, where cycles are not permitted.
Norwich Bus Station (Image: Denise Bradley)
"Rather than ignoring cyclists, the lane is restricted to buses only because it’s dedicated to a movement not available to those cycling.
"In terms of the existing advance stop line for cycles, our monitoring shows it provides little benefit for those cycling. In addition, the ring road itself isn’t promoted as a route for cycling and isn’t used very much by cyclists."
Work, due to start on Monday, January 8, will last 15 weeks.
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