BUNGLING council chiefs are ordering cyclists off their bikes – on a national cycle route.

Riders have been left bewildered by confusing new signs that tell them they cannot use a Southampton path that forms part of trails that run the entire length of the south coast, from Kent to Cornwall.

Campaigners say they are dismayed by the warning signs, which have been placed just yards from others directing people along the National Cycle Network routes, arguing they will put people off using pedal power to get around.

Dilys Gartside, from Southampton Cycling Campaign, told the Daily Echo she lodged a complaint with the City Council last month after the signs went up.

She said: “It’s causing confusion.

It sends out the message that cyclists aren’t valued or welcome here. I’m extremely saddened by it.”

The signs have been placed near underpasses on the city centre side of the Itchen Bridge, which also forms part of an official cycle route that stretches from the south of the Isle of Wight to Basingstoke.

The routes are part of a national network created by transport charity Sustrans with £42.5m in lottery funding, that by 2005 covered more than 10,000 miles, as part of a bid to encourage a reduction in car use.

A council spokesman said the signs are out of date, and were due to be removed.

But Dilys said there’s no way they should have been put up in the first place.

She said: “If we’re serious about wanting to encourage people to get out of their cars and onto a bike, we need to make it much more attractive for them.

“This is an essential route for cyclists.

“On our local Sunday rides most weeks one of our rides goes across this route and we have to explain that we are allowed to cycle legally. It’s not good professionally for us.

“If they were put up in error they should have come down double quick.”

The Southampton City Council spokesman said: “We apologise for any confusion caused.

“There are old signs in the subway under the bridge which are due to be taken down shortly.

“The Itchen Bridge will soon be refurbished, which will include looking at and improving all signage.”