CAR lanes under an accident blackspot railway bridge should be narrowed to make way for two cycle lanes, according to a Green councillor.

Dick Wolff said the car lanes can be legally narrowed under the Botley Road bridge in Oxford because it is a 20mph zone, allowing cycle lanes on both sides.

Cyclists currently have a dedicated lane heading out of the city but have to merge with traffic on the way in.

A motion backed by Labour-run Oxford City Council calls on Oxfordshire County Council to look into the idea as part of moves to redevelop nearby Frides-wide Square.

Mr Wolff said he thought it was possible to make the car lanes narrower.

He warned the “pinchpoint” was putting people off Cycling.

The Green Party councillor said: “Only confident and experienced cyclists tend to cycle under there “Anyone getting on a bike for the first time, which is what we want, is basically not going to do it. It is too intimidating.

“You are squashed between large vehicles and the wall, and it is scary.

“By slowing the traffic down, it means you can have a narrower carriageway and wider cycle lanes, and cyclists can go through there with a bit more confidence.”

He said the Conservative-run county council should also look at installing traffic lights either side of the bridge so vehicles could only travel in one direction at one time.

A long-term solution would be to drive a subway through the railway bank on the north side, though cash would probably not be available, he said.

Cycling campaign group Cyclox said the road was just over eight metres wide, just over the guideline 7.8m for roads to have cycle lanes.

Vice chairman Richard Mann said: “With the higher speed limit there was not quite enough room, but with the 20mph limit there would be enough room.

“Going into the city, people do not reach those speeds, but coming out it is a bit more of a problem.

“We would hope that if we did not give cars quite as much space, they will not go quite as fast.”

Oxfordshire County Council is still consulting on plans for the road layout in the area, including the idea of installing two roundabouts in Frideswide Square.