CYCLISTS in York are being squeezed off a busy city street - after road bosses painted over a bike lane.

The lane on the A19 Fulford Road was removed during resurfacing, leaving a "cycle lane" sign, but no cycle lane. Now environmentalists want it back.

Andy D'Agorne, leader of York's Green Party and councillor for Fishergate, said: "A resident pointed it out to me. It was done during the last resurfacing of Fulford Road. They resurfaced the section near the Hospital Fields Road junction. When they resurface it, they are meant to put the markings back but for reasons I do not know, they changed what was a cycle lane.

"There was a little bit extra added going into town, but it's about 20 or 30 yards of cycle lane that has disappeared and the sign is still there saying there is a cycle lane, but nothing on the road.

"It should be put back, really."

Paul Hepworth, of the York branch of the Cycling Tourists Club, said: "A lot of utility companies have the legal right to dig up and resurface the road, and it remains to be see whether one of these was responsible for the vanishing cycle lane.

"Longer term, consultation will soon be starting on measures to address congestion levels on the A19. The preliminary documentation mentions the need for cycle routes along both sides of the A19 where feasible, to provide a reasonably safe alternative to the riverside cycle path when that is seasonally flooded."

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: "We are looking into this and will respond fully when we know more. We are checking what was there before."

Earlier this week, The Press reported on a landmark council report, which warned that the A19 Fulford Road could be completely gridlocked by 2021 unless changes were made.

On Monday, councillors will consider a package of improvements on the road. Officers say that last year, an average of 22,500 commuters came into York to work each day, with 17,200 leaving to work elsewhere.

Transport boss Ann Reid said then: "This is a package of proposals that will go out to consultation and I am pleased that officers appear to be suggesting, using the knowledge that's been gained over the last few years, to control the traffic rather than just putting in bus lanes and getting rid of parking."