Cyclists in Derby furious about the threat to cycle lanes in the city are trying to force the council to change its plans.
They are upset that Derby City Council's scheme to change the road layout in Friar Gate could make cycling more dangerous and lead to more accidents.
Derby Cycling Group, under acting chairman Tony Roelich, has already staged a semi-naked protest to illustrate the stripping away of cyclists' safety and has written to Environment Secretary Michael Gove.
They are asking Mr Gove to reject aspects of the proposals relating to cycling recently submitted by the city council.
The proposed changes were designed to improve air quality in nearby Stafford Street cyclists believe they will create fresh hazards and fail to reduce pollution.
Derby Cycling Group is urging people to write to the Government to complain.
Mr Roelich has written: "We are alarmed that the proposal intends to remove two pieces of cycling infrastructure on Friar Gate which would make cycling there more dangerous.
"The proposal would change a cycle lane into a second lane for motor vehicles.
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"Please can you require that any cycling provision in the area affected by the clean air proposal has to be retained or improved to a better standard than exists today."
Mr Roelich said that he believes that "enabling more cycling and walking should be a cornerstone of Derby’s clean air strategy".
He added: "The city council must not remove existing infrastructure without providing something better. This proposal for tackling poor air quality in Stafford Street will make road cycling more dangerous on Friar Gate."
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The cycling group is concerned that under the clean air proposals, the cycle/bus/taxi lane and the right turn facility in Friar Gate will be removed by the council and turned into a second, faster lane for cars and lorries.
Mr Roelich said: "The cycle/bus lane is currently a 'safe haven' for getting access to the cycle/bus gate onto lower Friar Gate, it enables many people to cycle into the city centre.
"Removing the cycle lane will force cyclists to ride into the outside lane, into faster traffic, to get onto the lower Friar Gate cycle lane.
"Derby’s clean air strategy must encourage more cycling and walking. More cycling and walking are the best way to reduce pollution. This is recognised both by the local council, national government and local and national health agencies.
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"Facilities like these are important to encourage cyclists to ride in the most appropriate place: on the road or on dedicated cycle lanes. A network of good provision like this makes feel people feel safe and confident when cycling and helps to reduce the incidence of pavement cycling.
"The absence of consistent provision of good facilities in Derby is one reason why some people do ride on the pavement."
A spokesman for Derby City Council said: "Final designs are still being refined, but we have established that to achieve a balance of road user interests, we will need to accommodate right turning traffic in two lanes from Uttoxeter Old Road into Ashbourne Road/Friar Gate.
“Due to the lack of existing road length to the junction at Bridge Street, it is not possible to merge traffic back into one lane, so two lanes will continue into Bridge Street.
“Designs are being reviewed to try to provide the best solution within the existing constraints of the road widths.
“We are reviewing the Ashbourne Road approach to the Uttoxeter Old Road junction, with a view to retaining the current lane layout, which has been highlighted as better for cyclists than the outline proposal.
“We are also intending to create areas of shared use footway to provide alternative off road links for cyclists between Uttoxeter Old Road and Bridge Street, as well as working on an improved TOUCAN Crossing near Brick Street.
“It should also be remembered that there is an existing signed cycle route, which allows cyclists to avoid the Uttoxeter Old Road junction by using Vernon Street.
“We are legally required to achieve the NO2 levels on Stafford Street, and also has legal duties to balance the needs of road users. The intention has always been to achieve the best result possible within the existing constraints.”