Bike, Walk, Cross, Walk, Bike - that's continuity

This is one of the latest cycle paths installed in Colchester by Essex County Council - and in CCC's opinion it is the "chocolate teapot" of bike routes.

Because of a cock-up by planning/transport officers in Colchester Council and Essex County Council, the path is next to useless for bike commuters - or anyone using a cycle as anything other than a toy.

It means that riders have to dismount at the "End" sign, walk to the junction, which has narrow pedestrian-width paths, cross via a narrow island (so narrow your bike sticks out!) then walk on to the cycle path and remount.

This bizarre situation arose because council officers (we haven't been able to pin the blame to one department) omitted to ask a developer for enough land to put in a proper cycle crossing across the T-junction into a new housing development.

CCC has been told that, by the time the scheme hit Essex County Council's Colchester area office, it was too late - the plan could not be altered.

Will Bramhill of CCC told the recent cycling forum that this path was worrying in the light of draft Highway Code advice that "cycle facilities should be used where provided".

Will pointed out the possible legal ramifications (a reduced damages award) if a cyclist preferred to use the road rather than the path.

He said: "I told Essex that if the draft Code was passed, we might come back to them asking them to paint out this whole section of cycle route and make the road 20mph.

"Their response was that just because I didn't like this path, some people might still find it handy - though I can't see who, unless it is children wanting to play on bikes outside their homes."

"To be fair to the Essex area office, they have played merry hell with colleagues over how this got through.

"Unfortunately, for cyclists, it is another examply of rubbishy cycle provision."