SHARED-use paths for cyclists and pedestrians next to roads in urban areas are ‘outdated’ and should be phased out, according to new guidance from transport bosses.

Oxfordshire County Council’s highways department said pedestrians and cyclists should be separated where possible, particularly on roads where the speed limit is 30mph or less.

In a report to cabinet member for transport David Nimmo Smith, officers wrote: “Such infrastructure is not popular with either pedestrians or cyclists, and is seen as outdated and inferior compared to alternatives. Negative points include pedestrian and cyclist conflict, lack of priority for cyclists at side roads and lower cycle design speeds.”

It comes after a study of Botley Road last year suggested cycle lanes should be separated from pedestrian walkways to ‘maximise convenience’.

At the moment, a shared-use path for both cyclists and pedestrians runs on either side of the B4044 and Botley Road, between Westminster way to Earl Street. Eastbound, it continues to Binsey Lane.

But the study said: “On-carriageway cycle measures are preferred to off-carriageway tracks and shared-use paths. They have been designed to give cycles an appropriate level of priority and segregation from other traffic on the carriageway.”

This included part-segregated lanes, cycle lanes and advisory cycle lanes, it added.