Green Party councillors in Oxford claim there are three times more bikes in the city than places for them to be parked safely.

Cllr Craig Simmons

St Clement's ward city councillor Claire Palmer accused the county council of wasting £240,000 on benches for Cornmarket Street, but not providing sufficient bike parking in the city.

"The council claim to be in favour of cycling but fail at even the most basic task of providing enough secure racks for cyclists to park their bikes," she said.

In protest, Green councillors rode into the city to meet members of Oxford bike campaigning group Cyclox to discuss the poor provision of cycle racks.

County councillor David Robertson, the executive member for transport, said: "We are well aware of the need of providing more cycle racks, but the problem is finding enough suitable sites.

"We did a review two years ago and identified some areas for providing more places. We also have a programme of upgrading existing provisions, such as in Magdalen Street east, where we improved about 50 places.

"The truth is that however many spaces we are able to make available, they will never be enough. This is very much a cycle-orientated city and demand will always exceed what we can give."

Alex Hollingsworth, leader of the city council, said: "Although this is not the responsibility of my authority, I've no doubt any survey would show that more provision is required.

"It must also be said that there is evidence of many bikes being parked where they shouldn't be -- like against lamp-posts -- and blocking pavements."