Cyclists are calling for extra protection on major roads in Nottingham which they describe as 'horrendous' and many avoid them all together.
They claim London Road and Mansfield Road are hostile environments for cyclists and are demanding change.
Paul Rose, who is self-employed and from Lady Bay, has been cycling across Nottinghamshire for 15 years.
He said: "I never go down London Road, it's just horrendous.
"I love to go out cycling with my sons but there is no easy way to get into town and I'm not taking them on that road, no way.
"Mansfield Road is just as bad, I try to avoid both, they are the worst roads.
The 58-year-old would like to see a protected lane introduced.
He added: "I think that most cyclists feel that having a protected lane would be good.
"If we had that I'd cycle into town all the time.
"A painted lane wouldn't be safe enough, we'd need that added protection."
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However, Nottingham City Council said it has a "great track record of investing in cycle network improvements". Facilities already within city include the segregated cycle lane along Castle Boulevard, along with other cycle lanes and there are further plans for more cycle lanes across the city and county in the future.
But Chairman of cycling campaign Pedals, Mark Beaven says that Nottingham should take the approach of other European countries and have more cycle lanes.
He said: "If we had protected cycle lanes people would use them.
"The perception is that cycling is not safe, it's about getting ordinary people to make journeys on their bikes.
"Mansfield Road and London Road are not fit for cycling, they are very hostile for cyclists.
"Most countries in Europe have cycle lanes everywhere, if we had a safe cycling infrastructure people would use it.
"People should be able to make the natural choice to cycle."
Mark Weinstein, 59, retired, from Sherwood, has been cycling for 25 years and uses it as his primary means of transport.
He said: "I cycle all the time, I'm an experienced cyclist but cycling shouldn't be only for people who are super prepared and confident.
"Most people look at the roads and think it isn't safe enough and quite rightly feel vulnerable.
"Once you've got a protected lane you've got a high degree of confidence that you will be safe, it would get more people riding bikes."
The city council also said it is keen to get as many people as possible on two wheels.
Portfolio Holder for Transport, Councillor Rosemary Healy, said: “We have a great track record of investing in cycle network improvements, with facilities like the segregated cycle lane along Castle Boulevard helping to encourage more people to get around by bike. We’re keen to deliver a better north-south route across the city, which we have highlighted to the Dft for our future funding requirements.
“We are already working on some parts of the route, with segregated cycle facilities and other improvements planned for the section of Mansfield Road between Goose Fair roundabout and Hucknall Road and improvements at the Station Street/London Road junction.
"We will be consulting later this year on designs we are working up in partnership with Sustrans, who have secured DfT funding to support design work for a priority cycle route in Nottingham which includes Mansfield Road.
“Meanwhile the area around Broad Marsh is under construction to greatly improve how pedestrians and cyclists move across and around the city centre and funding is in place for the Future High Street Zone which will support north–south movements across the city centre.
“There are alternatives to London Road. Meadows Way and Arkwright Walk – itself recently upgraded with further possible improvements at the northern end - provide quieter, low traffic routes that connect with the improvements around the Broad Marsh, and we are also looking at possible improvements to the canal towpath that runs parallel to London Road, including lighting.”
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