A council has come under fire after painting a minuscule zebra crossing across a contentious £17 million cycle lane, which residents fear will lead to confusion and accidents. The unusual road markings, consisting of just one or two stripes, span the controversial cycle path leading to a floating bus stop.
Details of the Crossing
Cyclists must stop when they see someone waiting to cross the 3-foot-wide bike path on Ringwood Road in Poole, near Bournemouth, Dorset. However, critics argue that the new layout, likened to a child's play mat, will cause confusion and increase the risk of accidents. Several mini crossings have been installed along the busy road, where the cycle lane is up to 11 feet wide—sometimes wider than the 10-foot-wide carriageway used by motorists.
The work on a two-mile stretch of Ringwood Road is part of a larger £120 million project to lay nearly 50 miles of new cycle lanes in southeast Dorset. The 'Transforming Travel' programme, covering residential areas of Bournemouth, Poole, Ferndown, and Wimborne, aims to encourage more people to cycle and scoot. However, opponents claim it is part of BCP Council's 'war on motorists' and argue that the cycle paths are rarely used and a waste of money.
Residents' Concerns
Residents say the bizarre road markings will 'spark confusion' and could lead to 'people getting injured, maimed and killed.' Justin Midgley, from the protest group BCP and Dorset Motorists, which has 6,500 members, stated: 'I think these crossings will spark confusion among the general public who will wonder who has priority now. The mechanics are strange as you cross an active cycle lane to reach a floating bus stop still in the cycle lane. I believe these bus stops have been under investigation in London for safety reasons. The whole layout is visually jazzy and confusing. One stripe of white does not imply a pedestrian crossing, and there is no signage indicating priority. Pedestrians will likely ignore the crossing and cross where they please.'
One local resident questioned: 'Do the council seriously think that so many cyclists will use these lanes that pedestrians need a dedicated crossing to safely walk 3 feet across them?'
Social Media Backlash
The new crossings have sparked uproar on social media, with locals branding them a 'waste of money.' Joan Dane commented: 'This looks like my 2-year-old grandson's car play mat!' Tina Stevens said: 'Have I woken up in a parallel BCP? A crossing within a crossing on the cycle path, presumably for pedestrians to stop while cyclists pass.' David Sanders remarked: 'Who would even realize that was meant to be a pedestrian crossing? A lawyer's field day once people start getting injured, maimed and killed.' Others suggested the money would be better spent on fixing potholes. Peter Raymont noted: 'It's amazing how senseless projects can take priority over maintaining flat roads with proper surfaces free from degradation like open potholes.' Justin Morris added: 'At some point I'm going to stop paying my council tax! Paying for all this nonsense is stupid.'
Previous Controversies
Motorists have previously raised several concerns about the cycle lane, claiming it is barely used and makes journeys more hazardous. Extended pavement corners at junctions force cars emerging from side roads to turn almost at right angles, often swinging into the opposite carriageway. Narrower carriageways leave little room for motorbikes to overtake, while lorry drivers must fold in wing mirrors to avoid clipping oncoming traffic. There is also less space for emergency vehicles to pass. Questions have been raised about the quality of materials used for the cycle lane after a 13-year-old girl suffered serious facial cuts when her scooter wheel caught on loose chippings.
BCP Council has faced criticism over its cycle rules and road markings several times in recent years. In 2024, locals slammed another 'confusing' measure when the council painted white cycle road markings in the middle of residential roads, baffling motorists who feared they had lost priority to cyclists. One resident on Windham Road said: 'There are no cycle lanes on this road. These signs are very confusing and will bring conflict between motorists and cyclists.' The council defended the measure at the time as 'wayfinding markers' in line with national guidelines. In 2022, BCP Council was in the news for telling cyclists to use the whole main road rather than a dedicated 7-foot-wide bike lane on the busy A35 in Bournemouth. Local Donna Clarke called it 'utterly ridiculous, causing tailbacks, delayed emergency vehicles, and frayed tempers.'
Council's Defense
Now, BCP Council has defended the new cycle lane and its strange zebra crossing in Poole, stating it was designed to 'ensure the safety of pedestrians.' A council spokesperson said: 'These markings are to ensure the safety of pedestrians crossing the cycle lanes to access bus stops on Ringwood Road. They are not there for motorists and have been installed to national design standards. The same markings were previously painted near the Mountbatten Arms roundabout on Ringwood Road to improve pedestrian access to a bus stop and on Queens Road near Bournemouth's Lower Gardens to help cyclists and pedestrians cross a narrow road safely.'
