TRAFFIC delineators installed on a section of McLarty Road in Halls Head to separate cyclists from other traffic are causing controversy after a woman was taken to hospital with a badly bruised hip after her bicycle hit one of the rubber pads.
The new safety initiative being trialled on McLarty Road by the City of Mandurah involves placing recycled rubber delineators on the edge of the lane.
City works and services director Allan Claydon said the placement was strategically located to ensure motor vehicles were kept out of the cycle lane.
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READ NOWBut an angry John Ellis, president of the 150-member Mandurah Over 55 Cycling Club, said members were concerned with the trial.
"What happens if a child or dog runs out or a cyclist is distracted; they are likely to collide with a delineator and that's like hitting a brick wall,�" he said.
Mr Ellis said the injured cyclist had a family member needing her full-time care and she could easily have broken her hip.
"Luckily it was only badly bruised,�" he said.
Mr Ellis said it was not just an issue for cyclists but motorists and pedestrians as well.
"Sometimes people throw bottles from cars and there is broken glass in the cycleway. Then cyclists have to ride on the road," he said.
"One resident said their caravan had almost overturned when it collided with a delineator.�"
Mr Ellis said youths on bikes were hooning around and using the cycleway as an obstacle course.
Mr Claydon said the delineators were spaced sufficiently far apart for a cyclist to weave in and out as required and the initiative was being assessed along with an alternative delineator installed in Fremantle.
He said the council was working to provide on-road cycle lanes on its more significant roads.
To date, the City had provided 13 kilometres of cycle lanes on roads, including Allnutt Street, McLarty Road, Peelwood Parade, Estuary Road and Cobblers Road.
"Looking at the bigger picture, the City is endeavouring to make the road space safe for both motorists and cyclists,�" Mr Claydon said.
�We can learn from the feedback we are endeavouring to get from Mandurah cyclists.�bike accident
Ambulance officers attend to a woman whose bicycle hit a controversial delineator on McLarty Road last week.