cycle lanes, can I drive in them ?

[bigdods]

Around here there are lots of major roads that now have a cycle land painted on them. So thats a dashed line (like the one in the middle of the road) with a picture of a bike painted at regular intervals. Now I assumed that I should drive outside of this lane, car positioned closer to the centre line so that my n/s wheels dont cross the dashed cycle lane line.

Today following a marked trafpol who just ignored it and assumed a 'normal' road position, with n/s wheel planted firmly in the middle of the cycle lane.

So what is the correct procedure , should i just ignore it like the bib ? And should said bib spot me doing so am I likely to get a tug and a telling off or a penalty ?

Edit to add picture, unlike the pic I have never actually seen a cycle in any of these lanes... (and in the pic the bit of the line further back seems solid but in reality is dashed all along its length)

Edited by bigdods on Sunday 13th May 19:32

[Vaux]

bigdods said:

So what is the correct procedure , should i just ignore it like the bib ? And should said bib spot me doing so am I likely to get a tug and a telling off or a penalty ?

The Highway Code is your friend.

HC119

119: Cycle lanes. These 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.
Law RTRA sects 5 & 8

I'd drive in a broken line section if it afforded a vision improvement.
Don't forget that there's often a lot of crap in bike lanes, as no one uses them.....

[biggusladdus]

We have cycle lanes in our town that would have you going over blind crests in the middle of the road, if you didn't ignore them and drive next to the kerb.

[Dogwatch]

Plenty of whinging locally about people parking - legally - on broken line cycle lanes which run past their houses. Also a lot of people think that you can't use them to get past cars waiting to make a right turn which causes frustration. Prudent to check the near-side mirror in case there is a lycra clad fanatic about to modify your paintwork however.

[streaky]

It's the green cycle waiting areas at traffic signals that p155 me off. Not to mention the cyclists who obstruct normal progress away from the lights. Mind you, those that simply ignore the lights p155 me off even more - Streaky [And, relax.]

[tigger1]

Why oh why does every mention of cyclists deteriorate into "cyclists are all evil lycra clad loonies"?

[bigdods]

ok, so the answer seems to be - Dont drive in them unless it is to pass an obstruction. Unless you are BiB then just pretend its a normal road ;-)

I think its all a plot by the wing mirror manufacturers. Driven away from the cycle lane puts you into close proximity to oncoming traffic, also pushed over by the cycle lane on their side. Lots of opportunities for wing mirror bashing.

[nobleguy]

bigdods said:

ok, so the answer seems to be - Dont drive in them unless it is to pass an obstruction.

Not sure - I did that and nearly clobbered the poor lady cyclist just about to overtake me in the cycle lane. Luckily she was alert and steered onto the pavement. Dread to think of what the police would have made of it even though it was completely accidental.

[bigdods]

nobleguy said:

Luckily she was alert and steered onto the pavement.

Where she should have been in the first place...... I rode my bike a mile into the centre of my local market town a week or so back, scared the living daylights out of me. Came back on the pavement.

Anyone taking a cycle on the road nowadays must be mad... aha or perhaps thats why they all wear bright pink or lime green lycra. Makes them visible and indicates a certain level of mental instability.

Edited by bigdods on Monday 14th May 13:16

[7db]

tigger1 said:

Why oh why does every mention of cyclists deteriorate into "cyclists are all evil lycra clad loonies"?

Is this multiple choice?

a) because we are all sharing a common hallucination
or
b) because they are (except the ones not in lycra)

[7db]

nobleguy said:

Not sure - I did that and nearly clobbered the poor lady cyclist just about to overtake me in the cycle lane. Luckily she was alert and steered onto the pavement. Dread to think of what the police would have made of it even though it was completely accidental.

She is established in lane, passing you. You should yield to her.

[herewego]

bigdods said:

nobleguy said:

Luckily she was alert and steered onto the pavement.

Where she should have been in the first place...... I rode my bike a mile into the centre of my local market town a week or so back, scared the living daylights out of me. Came back on the pavement.

Anyone taking a cycle on the road nowadays must be mad... aha or perhaps thats why they all wear bright pink or lime green lycra. Makes them visible and indicates a certain level of mental instability.

Edited by bigdods on Monday 14th May 13:16

Perhaps all drivers should be required to do a certain amount of cycling (and walking).

[nobleguy]

7db said:

nobleguy said:

Not sure - I did that and nearly clobbered the poor lady cyclist just about to overtake me in the cycle lane. Luckily she was alert and steered onto the pavement. Dread to think of what the police would have made of it even though it was completely accidental.

She is established in lane, passing you. You should yield to her.

Yep, completely. It was my fault.

[ewenm]

bigdods said:

nobleguy said:

Luckily she was alert and steered onto the pavement.

Where she should have been in the first place...... I rode my bike a mile into the centre of my local market town a week or so back, scared the living daylights out of me. Came back on the pavement.

Which is illegal unless you're under 14 (IIRC).

[jpringle819]

I took my bike into work last week and there was a scamera van blocking most of the cycle path. It was one of those roads that used to be two lanes but is now parking on the left then cycle lane then carriageway. I was tempted to knock the wing mirror off but settled for an exaggerated swerve at the last minute. They seemed unable to park because there was enough room to get fully in the parking bay, but perhaps the view of the road wasn't as good from there.

[bigdods]

ewenm said:

bigdods said:

nobleguy said:

Luckily she was alert and steered onto the pavement.

Where she should have been in the first place...... I rode my bike a mile into the centre of my local market town a week or so back, scared the living daylights out of me. Came back on the pavement.

Which is illegal unless you're under 14 (IIRC).

Well when there is no one on the pavement and its a choice of ride on there and get back in one piece or ride in the road and possibly be knocked off I know where I will be. Like everything in life you jsut have to be sensible about it.