Signs advising cyclists to “dismount and proceed with caution” at a set of temporary traffic lights in Worcester have been removed, after councillors and local cyclists complained that the signs were “discriminatory” towards people on bikes.
The temporary lights were installed at the end of July as part of work carried out by Cadent Gas on Worcester’s Malvern Road. They are expected to remain in place until the middle of November, the Worcester News reports
The ongoing road works and, in particular, a ‘Cyclists Dismount and Proceed with Caution’ sign located at the lights, have attracted the ire of residents and politicians in the West Midlands city, with one councillor urging the local authority to intervene due to the disruption caused to locals.
Worcester City councillor Sue Smith has also called for the ‘Cyclists Dismount’ sign to be replaced by one informing motorists to turn off their engines while waiting at the lights.
“Cars have been displaced, pollution has increased, and they are asking cyclists to dismount which I believe is not a legal request,” she said.
“Cyclists are entitled to use the road as much as anyone else. If anything, car drivers should be encouraged to turn off their engines when queuing, which would reduce the impact on residents living on Malvern Road who are breathing in increased levels of car fumes from idling cars.
“I would like to see the signage change and the cyclists dismount sign needs to be removed. A turn-off engine sign when waiting at traffic lights also needs to be installed and we need more information and confirmation about a completion date.”
The signage has also been criticised by her fellow Labour councillor Richard Udall, who questioned whether the requirement to dismount was “necessary” or even legal.
“No idea why cyclists need to dismount, not even sure if it’s legally enforceable,” Udall wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“Cyclists are legitimate road users, maybe all road users should proceed with caution.”
Udall and Smith’s belief that the signage is not legally enforceable is supported by the Department for Transport’s Safety at Street Works and Road Words code of practice(link is external), which informs planners that “where access is permitted for motor vehicles, ‘Cyclists Dismount’ signs should not be used”.
“The hazards to cyclists at roadworks are rarely great enough to justify this measure,” the code of practice states. “In any case, cyclists are likely to ignore such instructions. The only situation where cyclists should be advised to dismount is where the carriageway is closed but the footway remains open. A ‘Cyclists dismount and use footway’ white-on-red temporary sign may be used in such cases.”
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