BCP COUNCIL has been slammed for painting bike signs on a residential road with no cycle lane in Bournemouth.
More than a dozen large bike signs have suddenly appeared in the middle of the carriageway causing confusion to motorists as it now appears cyclists have priority.
The council says the white markings serve to act as a 'visual reminder to drivers that cyclists may be using this road.'
One resident on Windham Road, where the markings have appeared, said: "There are no cycle lanes on this road. These signs are very confusing and all they are going to do is bring conflict between motorists and cyclists.
"They look like they are telling road users that this road is a cycle route and cyclists have priority. It also looks like the are encouraging cyclists to use the whole road."
Another resident said: "I'm all for encouraging cycling but for our money to be spent on painting pictures of bikes on a road which is not really used as a cycling thoroughfare, the council's priorities seem to be eschew."
Phil Mountford, 44, a bank worker, added: "There's no bike lane and cars don't speed down the road because of the speed humps so they are a bit redundant."
He added: "There's reasonable access on this road as cars only park on one side, so the whole thing seems a bit strange."
Sonia Latore, 49, an operations consultant, said: "I am a cyclist and my 12-year-old son cycles to school on the road every day.
"It is a busy road and if the signs warn other road users then it is a good thing for safety.
"But I still think they are random and there are potholes which endanger cyclists I would prefer the money to be spent on.
"I suppose it is cheaper for the council to paint some signs than actually fix them."
A BCP Council spokesperson said: "Windham Road forms a short section of a 4km cycle route that runs all the way from Bournemouth railway station and bus station through Kings Park to Littledown and Wessex Fields.
"The bike symbols act as wayfinding markers for this section which is on road.
"The markings, which cost approximately £1,000, are in line with national guidelines and were funded by a central government grant awarded to BCP Council to build the cycle route."
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