New bike lane in Sheffield criticised as ambulance drives wrong way on road

Businessman Graham Royle said the emergency vehicle, which had blue lights and sirens on, was on Leopold Street heading towards Pinstone Street when it was forced to cross into the oncoming lane due to the new traffic system.

It had to round the bend into Barker’s Pool and continue in the wrong direction towards the City Hall, he added.

The incident comes after an ambulance was caught in a new cycle lane at Shalesmoor and medics were seen jumping from the cab to move plastic barriers.

On Leopold Street, a new barrier prevents traffic from joining Pinstone Street. But the road remains open to vehicles coming in the other direction from Barker’s Pool.

Mr Royle said: “The ambulance was forced to drive down the other side of the road, against the one-way traffic system.

“If a car had come around the blind bend from the City Hall there would have been a smash.

“The ambulance stopped momentarily as it wanted to get into Pinstone St but the central bollards prevented it.

“The ambulance had no choice but to continue in the wrong direction against the one-way traffic system up towards the City Hall.

“These cycle lanes are utterly ridiculous and will result in more accidents and more pollution from stationary, gridlocked traffic.”

New cycle lanes on Pinstone Street and Shalesmoor were installed temporarily as an emergency alternative to buses operating at severely reduced capacity due to the pandemic.

Pop-up bike lane set to be removed

A Sheffield City Council spokeswoman said they were speaking to all emergency services and no date had been set for any changes.

She added: “The changes to Leopold Street are temporary as part of the Government funded active travel scheme.

“The ambulance service is aware of temporary changes and we continue to speak with all emergency services, including Police and Fire and Rescue, regarding the city’s roads.

“This scheme has also been modified to act as an emergency vehicle lane, meaning all emergency vehicles can use this cycle lane in blue light situations.

“At this moment in time, no date has been set for changes to the existing set-up. Any permanent changes to roads will go through a full consultation process.”

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