Transport bosses are to look again at safety improvements along a busy road in Oxford following concerns raised by residents.

People living near Old Road, in Headington, feel it is too narrow to accommodate cyclists and vehicles safely. Patrick Coulter, chairman of the Highfield Residents' Association, said the road had become a "text book example" of a dangerous route.

Mr Coulter, of Stapleton Road, said: "It's a very hairy road to travel down as a cyclist. It's very narrow, you have high kerbs on both sides at one point and a dangerous bend on the hill - there are so many things that pose a risk.

"It is a route used by kids travelling to Cheney School and people going to Brookes University and the hospital. Something really needs to be done about it."

Mr Coulter said the county council had previously carried out a survey of the road, but nothing came of it.

County council transport planner Joy White said feedback from consultation into a traffic calming scheme had ruled out various proposals. She added: "There is clearly still a desire to see improvements and, despite the fact that developing an effective and popular scheme is clearly quite a challenge, county council officers will be considering again what can be done.

"We are keen to meet residents and users to discuss how we can take this forward."

Old Road resident Hilary Rollin welcomed th e move. She was involved in an accident on the busy road at the end of 2003, and said she wass still nervous about cycling along it.

Mrs Rollin added: "There are a lot of accidents that happen along Old Road that don't get reported. Large vehicles are cyclists' number one enemy."

The county council is drawing up plans for a cycle lane on the footpath, on the eastbound approach to the junction with Windmill Road.

Mrs White added: "We will of course consult users on this proposal."

But Harry Edwards, planning secretary for the residents' association, said the news did not fill him with confidence.

He said: "We've heard all this before and nothing has happened. The Nuffield Hospital even offered land to the county council several years ago to build a cycle lane, but they never took up the offer."

City councillor Joe McManners said money from developers for infrastructure improvements in the area should be used.

He said: "There has been a lot of development in this area, but none in cycling facilities. Something needs to be done to address this."