CYCLISTS could be allowed to ride towards oncoming traffic on a one-way street outside York’s new council headquarters – despite police saying it could put them in danger.

Transport bosses at City of York Council have agreed to stage a consultation over creating a contra-flow cycle lane on a section of Tanner Row, between Rougier Street and North Street, to improve cycling links near the authority’s £43.8 million base at West Offices.

Coun Dave Merrett, the authority’s cabinet member for transport, planning and sustainability, has approved the scheme in principle and local residents, businesses and organisations which represent cyclists and other road-users will now be asked what they think before it is implemented.

A report by transport projects engineer Mark Calvert said North Yorkshire Police believed the lane would pose a risk to cyclists because some drivers may not understand the new arrangements on the one-way route.

The force has also raised concerns that footpaths in Tanner Row are “very narrow” and pedestrians may step into the road without realising cyclists are heading towards them.

However, Mr Calvert’s report said signs at the entrance to the road would be “self-explanatory”, while new road markings would be put in place to increase pedestrian awareness. It also said visibility along Tanner Row was good and pedestrians could see along the whole length of the route.

“A number of improvements to cycle accessibility around the new offices are currently being undertaken, with the aim of encouraging employees and members of the public to cycle to and from the offices,” said the report.

“Under the current arrangement, a cyclist wishing to travel from West Offices to get to Cinder Lane must make the right turn from Rougier Street onto Tanner’s Moat, against oncoming traffic. If they had the option to travel on the section of Tanner Row which is currently one-way, they would have much easier journey options and travel on roads with less traffic.”

It also said the council believed the contra-flow lane would be well-used as cyclists had been seen ignoring the one-way order. A traffic regulation order will now be advertised alongside the consultation.