TRANSPORT bosses say they are working hard to keep Bolton’s cyclists safe after pledging to improve some of the town’s worst junctions.

The first “Trixi safety mirrors” have been installed at three problem junctions — Folds Road and Bury New Road, Moss Bank Way and Captain’s Clough Road in Smithills and Albert Road and King Street in Farnworth.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is behind the £650,000 scheme covering the region, and says the equipment — large convex mirrors on traffic lights that give bus, coach or HGV drivers better views of cyclists who might be cycling alongside them — will help prevent accidents.

Another 10 trouble spots will be painted with advanced stop lines, giving cyclists the chance to position themselves ahead of traffic so they can be seen.

Cllr David Chadwick, lead member for transport at Bolton Council and a member of TfGM’s committee, welcomed the move.

He said: “The Department for Transport has approved these mirrors at any junction where there is perceived to be a risk of cyclists possibly having fatalities or being injured in an accident.

“Clearly when you’re riding a bike and are involved in an accident with a HGV, bus or a car, the cyclist is going to come off worse.

“The convex mirrors mean that when cyclists come up on the side of HGVs, coaches or buses, it gives the drivers a better view of them.

“Anything we can do as TfGM to reduce the risk to cyclists is something I would applaud.”

Across Greater Manchester, 176 road junctions with a left-hand turn will be improved thanks to the scheme.

Eleanor Roaf, regional director of sustainable transport charity Sustrans, said making cycling safer would encourage more people to take up the sport.

She said: “Fear of traffic danger is the number one reason prevent people from travelling by bike so it’s fantastic to see such a comprehensive improvement to safety on Bolton’s roads.”

Junctions where Trixi mirrors are being fitted:

  • Moss Bank Way/Captains Clough Road, Smithills
  • Folds Road/Bury New Road, Town Centre
  • Albert Road/King Street Street, Farnworth

Junctions being given advanced stop lines:

  • Bradshaw Road/Lea Gate, Bradshaw
  • Leigh Road/
  • Cricketers Way, Westhoughton
  • Chorley New Rd/Winter Hey Lane, Horwich
  • Chorley New Rd/Tudor Ave, Heaton
  • Lee Lane/Winter Hey Lane/Longworth Road, Horwich
  • Glynne St/Albert Road, Farnworth
  • Bury Road/Crompton Way, Breightmet
  • Wigan Road/Cricketers Way, Westhoughton
  • Mill Street/Cricketers Way, Westhoughton