A RESPONSE mocking the region's Active Travel campaign, which encourages people to walk and cycle, has been posted near what was considered the most controversial cycle lane in Bolton.
Signs have been installed across the borough, including on Chorley New Road, Heaton, with the words 'Think Active Travel. Why not walk or cycle?'
And somebody has comically responded by sticking up their own sign stating: "Probably because we removed the cycle lane".
The original sign was installed as part of the £275,000 Emergency Active Travel Scheme, which included the siting of 'orca wands' on Chorley New Road cycle lanes, which were repainted and widened.
The 'orca wands' were installed as part of measures to make cycling safer.
However the scheme proved controversial with residents unhappy about the measures, from residents covering everything from safety, congestion, to being an eye sore.
As a result it was halted in March 2021, with the wands removed.
Cllr Andy Morgan, who represents the Heaton and Lostock ward, said: "Following the consultation in regards to the cycle lanes on Chorley Old Road, we removed the orca wands in light of what the majority of the public wanted.
"We weren't going to go back on doing it after people pushed for it to be removed.
"We encourage people to still cycle because cycle lanes are still there and are a lot bigger.
"The orca wands blocked the roads when turning right and cause a lot of traffic congestion.
"I have laughed about the sign though, which is quite comical."
According to a survey, Cllr Morgan said, that 68 per cent of respondents were opposed in some way to the Chorley New Road Emergency Active Travel Scheme, and that the idea had been imposed on the borough by Greater Manchester.
In a report, Bolton assistant highways director John Kelly said: “Generally, the scheme has been poorly received with 68 per cent dissatisfied with the scheme as implemented.
"This is a consequence of both a focused targeting of residents within the consultation area and a dissatisfaction with how the scheme has been left incomplete and compromised through its implementation."
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