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feature
Cycle lanes - 10.jpgWhy don't cyclists use cycle lanes?
You hear it all the time, especially on internet forums: cyclists should ride in the cycle lane. You might have had motorists yelling the same thing at you out on the road, or honking their horn (breaking Rule 112 of The Highway Code) and pointing at the cycle lane. What's the truth?
Let's see what The Highway Code has to say (remember that not all of the rules in The Highway Code are legal requirements).
Here's Rule 61 of the revised Highway Code that came into force in January this year: "Cycle Routes and Other Facilities. Cycle lanes are marked by a white line (which may be broken) along the carriageway. Use facilities such as cycle lanes and tracks, advanced stop lines and toucan crossings where they make your journey safer and easier. This will depend on your experience and skills and the situation at the time. While such facilities are provided for reasons of safety, cyclists may exercise their judgement and are not obliged to use them."
That's simple enough, then. Despite what people might claim – and how hard they type USING BLOCK CAPS – The Highway Code makes it clear that cyclists aren't obliged to use cycle lanes.
Surely, though, it's better all round for cyclists to make use of cycle lanes when they are provided? It helps us cyclists by giving us our own space and it allows motor vehicles to flow more freely, right?
Well, it's not always the best option.
What if the cycle lane is full of debris that could to cause a puncture? Cycle lanes are usually positioned on the far left of the road and the camber means that everything that lands on the main carriageway eventually ends up there... grit, stones, bits that have fallen out of skips, the lot.
We're not saying it's common but we've even seen glass from a road traffic incident being swept from the middle of the carriageway on to the cycle lane and left there, as if that means it has been cleared.
Some cycle lanes are dotted with slippery drain covers because of their positioning and they can be full of obstructions like bins left out to be emptied, temporary road signs and parked cars.
Rule 140 of The Highway Code has been heavily revised in the latest version that took effect in January with the aim of affording greater protection to cyclists.
It says: "Cycle lanes and cycle tracks. Cycle lanes are shown by road markings and signs. You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation. Do not drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a broken white line unless it is unavoidable. You MUST NOT park in any cycle lane whilst waiting restrictions apply.
"You should give way to any cyclists in a cycle lane, including when they are approaching from behind you – do not cut across them when you are turning or when you are changing lane (see Rule H3). Be prepared to stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists before crossing the cycle lane.
"Cycle tracks are routes for cyclists that are physically protected or located away from motor traffic, other than where they cross side roads. Cycle tracks may be shared with pedestrians.
"You should give way to cyclists approaching or using the cycle track when you are turning into or out of a junction (see Rule H3). Be prepared to stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists before crossing the cycle track, which may be used by cyclists travelling in both directions.
"Bear in mind that cyclists are not obliged to use cycle lanes or cycle tracks."
There's a distinction in The Highway Code between 'Must/Must not' instructions which are legal requirements, and 'should/should not' and 'do/do not' rules which are advisory. That means that motorists are only advised not to park in a cycle lane marked by a broken white line (which is most of them).
Even if there's just the occasional parked car, you'll need to leave the cycle lane and perhaps move back into traffic that's travelling at a faster speed. You might feel safer staying out of the cycle lane completely.
Another reason for not using a cycle lane on the left of the road is that it isn't always convenient if you're soon going to turn right or need to be in the right lane. Staying in the cycle lane might leave you needing to cross multiple lanes of traffic.
You might also sometimes find traffic turning left across your path without noticing you. The risk of getting sideswiped is one of the most common objections to using some cycle lanes.
A recent study published in the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention found that, far from protecting cyclists, painted cycle lanes are likely to result in closer passes from motorists. If you've had similar experiences, you're perfectly entitled to skip the cycle lane.
There's also the fact that some cycle lanes are simply – what's the word? – crap. They're filled with obstacles – street signs, bollards, trees and the like – they're so narrow that it's impossible to overtake, and they end abruptly.
Some cycle routes impede progress by requiring cyclists to give way to side roads frequently and even to dismount at certain junctions. It's far easier and quicker to steer clear of many.
If you use a cycle lane you'll have to rejoin the rest of the traffic at some point. This is usually straightforward enough but sometimes the junction at the far end has been poorly designed so you might want to avoid it by not taking the cycle lane in the first place.
You'll often hear complaints that cyclist don't use "perfectly good cycle paths". The issue is that a cycle path existing and a cycle path being perfectly good are two different things. They're sometimes footways that have been converted by having little blue shared-use signs added, they're full of pedestrians, they're narrow and poorly surfaced, they yield at every junction and they sometimes disappear entirely.
We've only pointed out the negative aspects of cycle lanes here, naturally, because we're explaining why cyclists don't always use them (and, of course, it's always easy to criticise). The truth is that many fulfil a purpose.
If you feel safer in a cycle lane, you think it's better for your purposes, or you reckon that, as a matter of courtesy, using one will help the flow of motor vehicles on the road, then go for it. Riding in a cycle lane is often the most sensible option but, despite what others might insist, it's completely up to you.
Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.
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94 comments
Aye, I only ever use it if the traffic is spread out kerb to centre - it's generally reasonably easy to stay at or near the flow of traffic on that stretch, more often have to filter than not at the times i'd be going through.
Well, now I know where Norwich got its inspiration from
What! Where do I go then when I get to the traffic lights?
It's not obvious, but on the left hand side of the A370 there's a quite usable cycle lane, so by just merely hopping across two lanes of traffic, you can carry on in relative safety (strangely enough, that bit is on the pavement, but is marked as cycle only though it's very rare that I've encountered walkers on there).
I did see that bit of signage but I thought it was for joining. I really didn't think it was intended as an exit from the traffic lights !
"Intended" would be putting it a bit strong - I'd be surprised if anyone put much thought into it. The whole appoach to the M5/A370 roundabout is almost impossible to navigate on foot as there's only fragments of pavements here and there.
They put one of these shared paths in Edinburgh up and down Leith walk. But most of the time the part labeled for bikes is full of people walking, stopped talking or pushing prams. They actually have no idea they are In a bike lane.
You sound local to my parents, they live in Clevedon. Have you seen the proposals for the seafront? I thought they looked really good but my folks hate them along with most locals. Unfortunately they live in the adjacent street so the one way will make it a rat run.
Not owning a car they cycle everywhere and my Mum was recently knocked off her bike. Given that the bike was written off and she's in her 70's miraculously she's fine after a couple of weeks taking it easy.
This
Sure looks like hell on earth to me. In places it would seem only two cars wide - how can you get past the parking at any speed?
Cyclists will never use it, because hill. Also: because hill, people won't be able to safely cross the cycle path for speeding cyclists. It'll need some barriers across it every 50 metres to slow them down.
You must be a local! That's pretty much what they all seem to think, even the ones who cycle regularly like my folks. Personally I thought it looked good but each to their own I guess.
You’re lucky that using painted lanes is optional. Here (NSW, Australia) it’s compulsory if they are provided. But at least there is less confusion, they must be signposted as a bike lane, with the word lane written. If there’s a bike symbol without the word lane written, it’s not one. There is no parking permitted in bike lanes at all, which there shouldn’t be, they’re a traffic lane (enforcement is another matter). It doesn’t mean they’re any good, but at least it’s clear to cyclists what they are and when we must use them.
Or my personal favourite, approaching the Clifton Suspension Bridge from the Bristol side...
And the motorists just cannot understand why a cyclist might ride in the general lane...?!
https://goo.gl/maps/yhaFnD6awyYig1st7
The one by Dover castle is great
https://goo.gl/maps/tQWEy3W14Z3gTVdC7
On this occaision, the bike lane looks wider than the car lane.
Most cycle lanes just aren't wide enough. According to the design notes for cycle lanes:
All too often what you actually get is a cycle lane that's not much wider than your handlebars.
cycle lane.PNG
Whoever is measuring cycle lanes must be the same sort of person that says they've got a 12 inch cock. As mentioned, handlebars width if you're lucky.
I've got numerous pics of scooters and motorcycles, in one case 3 of them, stopped in ASLs from my handlebar camera. I don't generally have a problem with it, although I'd never do it on my own motorbike.
I do object to scooters/motorbikes using the cycle lanes although.
My other reason for hating painted cycle lanes is that the addition of them on the roads has pushed the 2 lines of traffic closer together and reduced the amount of space and, therefore, safety and opportunity, for filtering up the middle of the road on the motorbike when it's rush hour - hence why some of them now use the cycle lanes.
The Department for Transport (DfT) advice is,
"Ride at a sensible speed for the situation and ensure you can stop in time. As a general rule, if you want to cycle quickly, say in excess of 18 mph/30 kph, then you should be riding on the road."
https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dft.gov.uk/consu...
And of course the winner in this one is the awful "shared space" one on Priory Lane, from the South Circular in towards Richmond Park (Roehampton Gate).
One pavement split half and half with a "cycle lane" that's routinely blocked by parked cars / delivery vans, covered in leaves, full of schoolchildren etc and obviously all the road cyclists going to and from Richmond Park will ride in the road. The abuse along there is unreal, I know road.cc has featured a couple of close passes and one example of extreme abuse but it's a classic example of how shit infrastructure makes things MORE dangerous. Remove that cycle lane from the pavement and the abuse will drop dramatically (it'll never go away entirely). Crap cycle lanes are worse than nothing.
Sustrans have to accept some responsibility for this because for years they were wiling to sign off any half-hearted bollocks from councils as being a hard-won campaign effort and "better than nothing" whereas in fact it's contributed to a lot of the issues.
oh god this is my pet hate- people telling me to use bicycle lanes which dont exist or are crap. You all know why we cannot use them when shared with pedestrians, when they cross junctions, when they have ramps or when they are full of trees, lamp posts or the elderly. Motorists who do not cycle of course wont get it, because theyre too retarded to ask politely. They are in effect, giving us permission to ride up alongside them in traffic and point to the bus stop sign. ''Why arent you on the bus? The council spent millions on the bus services here, yet you car drivers REFUSE to use them! And youre sat two abreast, slowing me down!] i have actually said this, or along those lines, to a few people now. Anyone reading this still, go to rate driver, type in'' thr900j'' or ''hg59yrf'' ''hg09foj'' you cannot drive two abreast, with just you in a car, at zero mph, then beep and shout at a cyclist going 30 mph for slowing you down. seriously, we have to be on the road with people this dumb. i will gladly use cycle lanes when i dont have to give way, stop or battle with pedestrians. they dont exist yet in my area, the council takes great delught in pisstaking us with pavements and that little blue sign. Putting me going 30 mph on a pavement with people going 3 miles per hour is akin to cycling on the road at ten mph then letting a car driver weave in and out of you and other people on bikes, going at 100 mph, Ten times the speed, why is this thought to be ok to mix? I remmeber numberplates very well, every time i come across a driver who has previously said or done something to me when im cycling, if i find them when on my motorbikes, i beep or yell at them.
Motorbikes in ASLs can be an issue when the rider isn't indicating their intention i.e. when they are planning on turning left and a cyclist goes to their inside. Most of the time though, two wheelers share the same problems on the road and so tend to be more considerate.
I think my opinions have been skewed by anecdotal experience. Being followed down a cycle lane into an ASL by a small group of scooters, who took exception to my clearly not moving over far anough to let them all out into the ASL, and one of whom tried to kick me off once the lights changed...
Motorcyclists and scooter riders are also vulnerable road users and also have the right to filter. In some circumstances, getting to the head of the queue and pulling diagonally in front of the lead vehicle is a trick I learned from a Police rider. It is extremely dominant, gives you clear space, good visibility into the junction and prevents any thought of a drag race when the lights turn red and amber. In most scenarios the motorcycle will be off and away into clear space and safety without holding up the traffic in any way. ASLs are therefore a complete pain in the arse in this respect and reduce rider safety.
If they were to work for cyclists then they should be combined with a 5 second head start over the motorised traffic to allow the cyclists to clear the junction without motons breathing down their necks, and especially in those daft designs where 2 lanes of traffic are forced to merge into 1 at the far side of the junction.
I went into town on my motorbike yesterday and found the cycle lane very useful to get front of the traffic lights. I don't think I've ever seen a cyclist use this section of them, I reckon the council just randomly placed them for a token gesture so they could say 'look we've done our bit for cycling'. They didn't even end it with an ASL at the lights either.
Anyway 10/10 for motorcycling - would jump to front of queue again.
Motorbike/scooter in a cycle lane or ASL is definitely in my top ten things that pi$$ me off, tbh.
Remember: that's the strip of road which is (supposed to be) ours, away from the motor vehicles.
I do filter to the front when I'm on my motorbike but I stay out of the ASLs, because they're not for motorbikes. I do get irritated with powered two wheeler riders who use ASLs. Twist and go scooter riders do seem to be the worst for using them, but then their riding skills are often horrendous too.
I've been told off by a van driver when on my motorbike for not using an ASL. He called over to me and told me to go into it and wouldn't listen when I told him it wasn't allowed. I don't know why he bohered. It wasn't as if me riding my sportsbike would hold up his Transit once the lights changed, but then people using four wheels rarely appreciate how much faster even small motorcycle is away from the lights.
I get that motorised two wheelers are vulnerable too, and I'm much more tolerant of the odd infraction, but it does annoy me when I filter past a long line of cars to an ASL I know is there, only to find it already full of motorbikes and scooters - leaving me (the one without a motor) having to do said drag race / jostle for position with the cars behind.
That's illegal by the way, filtering past the vehicle stopped at the white line at traffic lights.
They're too small to provide any protection, but you're expected to use them.
Completely segregated cycle lanes are frequently good. Shared use paths are ok when I'm riding with my 5 year old.
But white paint on the road causes me more problems with motorists than if they weren't there at all. Because if you dare to ride outside them, get ready for a full barrage of honking, finger pointing and shouting from ignorant halfwits who struggle to operate a motor vehicle.
Not sure why you refer to rule 140 when last month you told us it was ok to park in cycle lanes built after 2016. Or as seems the actual case, the regs were changed in 2016 and due to poor wording allow parking.
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