I just got back from the Netherlands, 7 days after this article was posted. I missed the "grand opening" becuase of this.

Note that the grand opening is of a stretch of the cyclepath that is only part of its length, because the whole project is already over a year behind, so waiting until it is REALLY finished would make it obviously 2 to 3 years late.

The likelihood of Leeds building the part in the city centre is starting to look pretty remote. SO the countless potential riders whose route is between Leeds and Bradford are catered for (??) but riding through the city centre, where it is incredibly dangerous, is probably going to be ignored.

I get really angry when anyone compares this rubbish with Dutch infrastructure, and have now made a very direct A/B comparison. It's utter shit compared to what it could, and should, have been, especially for the ENORMOUS amount of money they have pissed up the wall building it.

The blame lies squarely with the planners/builders. They designed it wrong, lied to the consultations, and then built something inadequate and different to the plans. If they did this with a "car superhighway" they would be fired.

It would be shocking how they could fuck it up so badly if it were not for Leeds' track record of hating bike riders and favouring cars above all else. Councillor Wakefield should be apologising, not celebrating.

1. It doesn't link Leeds and Bradford, it links Bradford to a 40mph 3-lane dual carriageway approximately 1 mile from the centre of Leeds.  They bottled it on providing a link into the centre and leave cyclists stranded some distance from where they want to be (with a short bit of shared pavement and multiple toucans taking you to Wellington St where you're on your own again).  That'll definitely get the nervous riders commuting, won't it?

2. If the gravel-strewn bumpy surface along Armley Rd outbound is counted as 'finished'  then colour me disappointed.  Did someone actually sign that off?  Have they ridden a bike, ever?  Bike lanes should be smoother than roads, if you want to encourage people onto them. My 23mm tyres are staying on the highway (which, incidentally, has been resurfaced very nicely, probably with some of the £29million of cycling money).  And what the hell is going on around Westerley Croft?  Shared (existing) pavement with dips, cracks and big puddles, replacing a painted lane in the main carraigeway (yup, they've actually *removed* infrastructure here). Really?

3. Parking enforcement keeping vehicles out of the lane will need to be a round-the-clock operation, judging by the lax obedience of takeaway shop drivers in Armley (no, it doesn't make it OK if you stick the hazards on).  

4. No signs have been provided indicating that the tracks are (mainly) mono-directional, and some of the confusing layouts channel people into travelling the wrong way, e.g Armley Rd outbound near the footbridge.  I'm aware of one injury-causing accident due to this already, affecting a fairly experienced cyclist.  Nervous muggles on hybrids will be lambs to the slaughter.

So many of the problems  just seem down to laziness, not cost.  They just haven't been bothered to make this work, it's almost like they want it to fail.

Looking at the photograph, a car is parked on the cycle lane. How typical.

"What CityConnect describes as an “extensive programme” of engagement will now take place, including cycle training, led rides, Dr Bike sessions, and a Bike Friendly Business accreditation scheme to advise businesses on what they can do to encourage staff and visitors to travel by bike. "

Saldly, I suspect this will make sod-all difference to commuting numbers. It will not persuade people to stop using their cars and cycle instead.

75cm wide? Pathetic.

It's a token step, a wholly inadequate one, a box-ticking exercise. They "hope" but do not expect. I bet none of those involved in making the decisions will actually ride the route themselves on a regular basis.

I'll assume that the little onion has riden the route - most local critics certainly haven't been anywhere near either the cycle route, a bike or both. Most critics are obviously anti-cyclist. Yes, there are problems with this route particularly at some side-road junctions towards the western end. Yes, some parts are unclear, more green paint would help. Yes, at some bus stops the track does narrow-down, but it's not for much more than the length of the bus stop and is not difficult to negociate.  Remember it has been added to an existing road. I'd sooner ride on this than that road now - and long lengths of the route are pretty good. Steep learning curve for all involved and there will be more to come I'm sure.

To the councillor who called this a "first step" - now, I am sure that the Department for Transport are itching to throw you another £30 million, after you pissed the last lot of money away on some abysmal infrastructure. You don't multiple shots at creating these routes, you only get one chance, because there won't be any more money.

And you cocked up big time on this one.

There was lots of consultation, which has been systematically ignored. All the local cycle campaigns have very strong words to say about the design, execution and communication strategy of City Connect.