Roads are being painted to allow cyclists to ride the wrong way along one-way streets.

A total of 12 streets in Brighton’s North Laine will allow two-way cycling alongside one-way traffic from mid-November.

Brighton and Hove City Council hopes the move will discourage cyclists from mounting pavements, squeezing along alleyways and taking illegal shortcuts.

Church Street, Jubilee Street and New Road already have two-way cycle paths. From next month the remainder of Church Street, Foundry Street, Gloucester Road, part of Gloucester Street, Kemp Street, Kensington Place, Kensington Street, Over Street, Queen’s Gardens, Robert Street, Tidy Street and Trafalgar Street will all open as contra-flow roads for cyclists.

The city’s keenest cyclists are thrilled by the plans, though some North Laine workers have expressed concern.

Councillor Ian Davey, chairman of the council’s transport committee, said: “This is designed to make the area easier for people to move around.

“It will address issues raised by local residents and businesses about cyclists who use pavements by permitting people to cycle legally on the street.

“We will continue to work with the local community as the changes are rolled out so that it is safe and works well.”

Software engineer Rob Kent, who commutes from his Hove home to Brighton on his bicycle, said the project is a “very good thing”.

Motorist awareness

However, he added: “It has to be done properly and motorists have to be made aware of what’s going on, otherwise it’s going to cause a lot of conflict and frustration.

“They should stick up big temporary signs for motorists, telling them to be aware of cyclists in both directions.

“At the moment if you’re a cyclist you cannot get across town because everything is one-way.”

Carpenter and cyclist Richard Scofield said: “I understand the theory of it but I think a lot of bike lanes in Brighton are confusing for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists.

“If a bike is heading the wrong way people just assume the cyclist is being cheeky. It’s probably more dangerous for pedestrians, because they will not expect cyclists to be coming the other way.”

North Road worker Gary, is against the project. He said: “The council seems to be endorsing breaking the law by letting people cycle down a one-way street the wrong way.

“They flout the law as it is by cycling on pavements and things.

“The council seems to be narrowing the roads to eliminate cars from Brighton. They are totally congesting the city.”

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