{"id":461481,"date":"2026-03-06T22:12:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T22:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/461481\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T22:12:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T22:12:13","slug":"manchester-evening-news-accused-of-stoking-anti-cycling-sentiment-after-incorrectly-claiming-new-bike-lane-set-to-be-ripped-up-again-cycling-news-bike-reviews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/461481\/","title":{"rendered":"Manchester Evening News accused of stoking anti-cycling sentiment after \u201cincorrectly\u201d claiming new bike lane set to be \u201cripped up again\u201d – Cycling News | Bike Reviews"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Manchester Evening News has been accused of \u201csensationalism\u201d and stoking anti-cycling sentiment after publishing a story on modifications to recently-installed cycling infrastructure \u2013 by claiming in its headline that the bike lane was being \u201cripped up again\u201d, as part of the latest instalment in a long-running \u201cinsane saga\u201d.<\/p>\n

However, cycling campaigners in the city have described the headline as misleading and \u201cincorrect\u201d, pointing out that no changes are being made to both existing CYCLOPS junction and the bike lane, which is simply being painted green, instead (a minor modification also clarified by the MEN itself).<\/p>\n

In 2025, work began to install new protected cycle lanes and a CYCLOPS (Cycle Optimised Protected Signals) junction, designed to make crossings safer for cyclists and pedestrians, on Oldham Road in Manchester, a busy route connecting the north-east of the city to the centre.<\/p>\n

The active travel improvements form part of Manchester City Council\u2019s Northeast Gateway scheme, introduced to give better access to the city centre for people walking or on bikes, while making it \u201ceasier and safer\u201d to use for everyone.<\/p>\n

\"OldhamOldham Road cycle lane plans, Manchester (Image Credit: Transport for Greater Manchester)<\/p>\n

According to the council, Oldham Road is a \u201cbusy road with lots of cars, and few cycle lanes, which is difficult to cross\u201d. In the past five years, 36 collisions have been recorded on the road, including seven serious injuries.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a third of the buses that use the route \u2013 with 43 two-way services operating each hour \u2013 are more than five minutes late, the council says.<\/p>\n

But despite the scheme\u2019s apparent benefits for active travel and bus journeys, the construction work, which finished in November, has been heavily criticised in the local press, with the Manchester Evening News<\/a> describing it as an \u201cinsane saga\u201d beset by delays.<\/p>\n

Speaking to Local Democracy Service reporters, locals claimed that the works have \u201cmurdered\u201d businesses on the road, while one pub landlord said roadworks on nearby Rochdale Road in December \u201cliterally shook the pub and drove customers out\u201d.<\/p>\n

And this week, the MEN says Oldham Road \u201cwill be dug up for a third time since the start of 2025\u201d. These works, the newspaper reports, will take place once construction on Rochdale Road is completed, and will see the recently installed cycle lanes \u201cripped up\u201d and painted green in the coming week.<\/p>\n

A post on the Manchester Evening News\u2019 Facebook page sharing the story also described the development as \u201ccrazy\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"ManchesterManchester Evening News\u2019 cycle lane Facebook post<\/p>\n

The claim that the cycle lanes are set to be dug up and the tone of the MEN\u2019s coverage, however, has attracted criticism from local cycling campaigners, who believe the MEN\u2019s headline is promoting an anti-cycling agenda.<\/p>\n

\u201cA clarification that this article is incorrect,\u201d campaign group Walk Ride GM posted on social media.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe existing infrastructure built last year on Oldham Road will stay, including the CYCLOPS. This scheme is building on that work to expand the cycle route into the city centre.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe MEN are click-baiting cycle infrastructure,\u201d wrote Pete, while Katy said: \u201cManchester Evening News relying on anti-cycling sentiment for clicks? Again? Colour me shocked.\u201d<\/p>\n

> \u201cMonstrous\u201d cycling junction scheme scrapped after locals complained about removal of \u201ciconic\u201d lamp at roundabout<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not good journalism \u2013 it\u2019s sensationalism, reporting the hyperbole of one resident,\u201d added Owler.<\/p>\n

\u201cPretty disappointing to see the work of licence fee payer funded Local Democracy Reporters being used to produce rage-bait headlines,\u201d said Sean in Facebook.<\/p>\n

\u201cOldham Road has terrible bus delays and awful safety for anyone outside a motor vehicle.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like they\u2019ve managed to design a great scheme here which makes much better use of all the wasted space to provide something for all modes of transport including cars.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"OldhamOldham Road cycle lane plans, Manchester 3 (Image Credit: Transport for Greater Manchester)<\/p>\n

And Walk Ride\u2019s Trafford branch added: \u201cWhen improvements are made to the experience of public transport users in an area of low car ownership, when a vehicle carrying up to 70 people is given the opportunity to get above an average speed of 10 mph and for those people to get to where they are going on time \u2013 we should celebrate.\u201d<\/p>\n

The MEN\u2019s questionable coverage of Oldham Road\u2019s cycling infrastructure comes in the same week Manchester City Council announced a set of new active travel and public transport changes to the road and the surrounding area.<\/p>\n

The plans for the rest of Oldham Road, the council says, aim to make \u201cbus stops safer and easier to use, with accurate real time information screens\u201d, ensure bus journeys are \u201cfaster and more reliable\u201d, and improve crossings and footpaths to support walking, wheeling, and cycling.<\/p>\n

As part of the proposals, the council wants to introduce more protected cycle lanes on Oldham Road, make changes to crossings and junctions, add more bus lanes, and restrict access to motorists on certain sections of the route.<\/p>\n

> \u201cNot everyone can leisurely take a bike\u201d: Active travel scheme branded \u201cmost expensive cat litter tray in history\u201d by residents threatening to move away from \u201cnightmare\u201d area \u2013 but cyclists say town centre will become \u201csafer and more pleasant place\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cOur streets should work for everyone \u2013 people walking, wheeling, cycling, using buses, and driving. Some trips need cars, vans, or trucks. We\u2019re improving roads, traffic lights, and junctions to make them safer and less busy,\u201d the council said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor many years people have been telling us they want better buses, better infrastructure and safer journeys and this is what we\u2019re aiming to deliver in Oldham Road,\u201d Tracey Rawlins, the council\u2019s executive member for transport, said in a statement launching the new public consultation.<\/p>\n

\u201cInvestment in improving our journeys is vital as we know that for the money that goes into improving our network, we get back more in wider benefits. That means a stronger economy, more growth and better health as well as opportunities for our residents.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"OldhamOldham Road cycle lane plans, Manchester 2 (Image Credit: Transport for Greater Manchester)<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Alison Chew, Transport for Greater Manchester\u2019s interim bus director, added: \u201cThese plans aim to make bus stops safer and easier to use, improve the speed and reliability of bus services, and provide better walking and cycling routes with upgraded crossings and footpaths.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Manchester city centre continues to grow, improving the way people can move easily around the city is a major driver for change. We know that things can be better.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Manchester Evening News has been accused of \u201csensationalism\u201d and stoking anti-cycling sentiment after publishing a story on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":461482,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[4985,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-461481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-cycling","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/461481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=461481"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/461481\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/461482"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=461481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=461481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=461481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}