THEY are meant to be a refuge for cyclists on Britain’s roads.

But specially created cycle lanes are anything but, according to a new study by the University of Bolton.

Researchers teamed up with colleagues at the University of Leeds, to carry out a study comissioned by national cyclists’ organisation the Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC).

And they have established that motorists give cylists less room if they are in a cycle lane.

Dr John Parkin, reader in transport engineering and planning at the University of Bolton, said: “In the presence of a cycle lane, a driver is likely to drive between the cycle lane line and the centre line in a position which is appropriate for the visible highway ahead of the driver.

“A cyclist within a cycle lane does not seem to cause a driver to adopt a different position in his or her lane. This has important implications for the width of cycle lanes and implies that their width should never be compromised.”

Researchers attached a video camera onto the back of a cycle and travelled down three roads which each had sections where cycle lanes were provided and stretches without the markings.

On one road, the A6 at Garstang in Lancashire, motorists travelled seven inches closer to the cyclist when the cycle lane was in operation.

The minimum width of a cycle lane, according to Department for Transport guidelines, is 5ft, but researchers found that those they travelled on were narrower than that.

The study, which is being published in the Accident Analysis and Prevention scientific journal next month, concludes that reducing traffic speed and volume would provide cyclists with a safer environment in which to travel.

Chris Peck, the CTC’s policy co-ordinator, said: “Cycle lanes have a part to play in improving road conditions for cyclists, but this research has raised concerns that they are not always the best solution and may lead to a deterioration in comfort for some cyclists.”

andrew.greaves@ theboltonnews.co.uk