Wolverhampton's shortest cycle lane is on a road to nowhere
Wolverhampton's newest and seemingly shortest cycle lane has been raising a few eyebrows.
To the uninformed eye the route appears to start outside the Wilko store along Snow Hill - and come to an almost immediate end just two bike-lengths later.
The green marking is in fact the continuation of two city centre cycle routes which converge at the junction of Garrick Street and St George's Parade.
It is intended cyclists share the pavement outside Wilko with pedestrians before joining the road via the markings.
A Wolverhampton council spokesman, explained: "What is visible is actually the continuation of two prominent city cycle routes – the Princess St/Market Street/Garrick St route and the St George's Parade route.
"The routes continue across the pavement from St George's Parade to Snow Hill to enable cyclists to avoid the traffic lights at the road junction.
"There are no markings on the pavement as it is a 'shared route' also used by pedestrians to access the pelican crossing.
"The final marked part of the route on Snow Hill has a dropped kerb to allow cyclists to easily re-join traffic on the main carriageway.
"Unfortunately, the pavement further along Snow Hill is too narrow to make into a shared route for pedestrians and cyclists."
The £156,000 new cycle route in St George's Parade was announced by the authority earlier this year.
The two-way cycle route is intended to complement improvements planned in Bilston Street as part of the Metro Extension.
It is being funded with cash from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership Local Growth Fund.
