Wrong direction in a cycle lane

[weepingwillowb]

Twice this morning I saw cyclists riding in the wrong direction in the same cycle lane in an urban area, and along a busy road, and wondered if there was a law or bye-law prohibiting it? As a pedestrian, I suppose it shouldn't affect me, but would it be considered a potential hazard to road traffic driving in the opposite direction?

 

[jfollows]

The Road Traffic Act 1988 (as amended, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/contents) covers

• Dangerous cycling
• Careless, and inconsiderate, cycling
• Cycling when under influence of drink or drugs

in sections 28-30 and presumably the cyclists you saw could be prosecuted under one of the first two.

Careless and inconsiderate cycling: a person is guilty of such an offence if a person cycles on a road without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users. Maximum penalty £1,000 although it's unusual for this to be levied.

 

[Falcon1200]

Is the cycle lane part of the main carriageway and simply designated by a white line, a footpath converted to shared pedestrian and cyclist use, or a completely separate cycle lane? In the first case, cycling in the wrong direction would be both stupid and dangerous, but maybe not so much for the other two, if indeed such cycle lanes can be or are officially designated for use in one direction only.

 

[Ken X]

When you say wrong way, do you mean against the arrows on the cycleway or against the main traffic flow. I ask as we have at least two painted cycle lanes in Horsham which now allow cycle traffic in the opposite direction to the vehicular traffic in "one way" roads. Always struck me as a bit brave and I have declined to use them but they do exist.

How lucky do you feel .

 

[Magdalia]

I can think of two different examples in Cambridge where "wrong way" cycling is permitted and encouraged.

Pembroke Street/Downing Street is one way eastbound for motor vehicles but has a contraflow westbound cycle lane in the main roadway. There is a pedestrian crossing that has traffic lights for westbound cycles in addition to the traffic lights for eastbound motor vehicles.

Going along Hills Road from the railway station to the hospital there is a signalled move at Long Road traffic lights so that cyclists heading for the hospital can cross over to the cycle path/footpath on the west side. That way they don't have to negotiate a right turn at the big roundabout at the front of the main hospital entrance.

So are you sure that what you saw is not a permitted move?

 

[weepingwillowb]

Is the cycle lane part of the main carriageway and simply designated by a white line, a footpath converted to shared pedestrian and cyclist use, or a completely separate cycle lane? In the first case, cycling in the wrong direction would be both stupid and dangerous, but maybe not so much for the other two, if indeed such cycle lanes can be or are officially designated for use in one direction only.

Yes, part of the road, and separated from road traffic by white lines. If anyone knows Lancaster centre, it's King Street.

When you say wrong way, do you mean against the arrows on the cycleway or against the main traffic flow. I ask as we have at least two painted cycle lanes in Horsham which now allow cycle traffic in the opposite direction to the vehicular traffic in "one way" roads. Always struck me as a bit brave and I have declined to use them but they do exist.

How lucky do you feel .

Against the arrows and the road traffic flow.

54.047529,-2.801896 | Instant Street View

54.047529,-2.801896 | Instant Street View

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[Ken X]

In that case I suspect Jfollows has the right of it. Road Traffic Act 1988 applies.

A colleague of mine was known to regularly get very, very, plastered on a regular basis. Due to this he never drove and pushbiked everywhere. One night after a particularly heavy session he approached a roundabout from the 6 o'clock direction intending to exit at the 3 o'clock direction. Fortunately, he spotted the police car concealed at the 11 o'clock position.

Thinking quickly, our hero decided that wobbling past the police was not going to go well so he took the short way round the roundabout anticlockwise to avoid passing the car. Needless to say he got his collar very firmly felt and received a lecture on the error of his ways.

 

[Snow1964]

I know of some recently erected No Entry signs (big red circles with white bar) which have plates below saying Except cycles where a road adjoins a mini roundabout.

So implication is traffic is one way from other end of the road, but cycles can go wrong way with no segregation.

But not technically a one way street, as other end has red circle sign with motorcycle above car (no vehicles) with plate saying Except for Acesss. So I assume have to enter one end (except cycles) but are free to go either way if pulling out of a driveway etc

 

[PeterC]

I know of some recently erected No Entry signs (big red circles with white bar) which have plates below saying Except cycles where a road adjoins a mini roundabout.

So implication is traffic is one way from other end of the road, but cycles can go wrong way with no segregation.

But not technically a one way street, as other end has red circle sign with motorcycle above car (no vehicles) with plate saying Except for Acesss. So I assume have to enter one end (except cycles) but are free to go either way if pulling out of a driveway etc

There is a street near me which is effectively a semi cul-de-sac in that you can only enter from one end but leave from both. I am sure that there are quite a few others around the country.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Against the arrows and the road traffic flow.

54.047529,-2.801896 | Instant Street View

54.047529,-2.801896 | Instant Street View

www.instantstreetview.com

Yep, that's one way for cycles too, if you want to go the other way you have to get off and push.

Technically an offence, though you've got as much chance of it being prosecuted, especially if it's kids, as of placing a tub of ice cream in the middle of the Sahara and coming back in half an hour and it not having melted.

Of course there is a medium term plan you've probably heard of to revert that piece of road to two-way and convert the other side by the town hall to bus/cycle only, so if that does happen then it's no longer an issue anyway.

 

[johncrossley]

That cycle lane is virtually no use anyway. It is very narrow and only separated from motor vehicles by white paint.

 

[zwk500]

When you say wrong way, do you mean against the arrows on the cycleway or against the main traffic flow. I ask as we have at least two painted cycle lanes in Horsham which now allow cycle traffic in the opposite direction to the vehicular traffic in "one way" roads. Always struck me as a bit brave and I have declined to use them but they do exist.

How lucky do you feel .

Contraflow cycle lanes are brilliant when used well. However far too many times they're put in really badly in the UK.

That cycle lane is virtually no use anyway. It is very narrow and only separated from motor vehicles by white paint.

It's not separated at all.

 

[Broucek]

Contraflow cycle lanes are brilliant when used well. However far too many times they're put in really badly in the UK.

Fixed it for you

There are some astonishingly bad bits of cycle lane design 'round my way...

 

[zwk500]

Fixed it for you

There are some astonishingly bad bits of cycle lane design 'round my way...

I was specifically responding to a point on contraflow lanes, but yes I suppose you have. Although you can get away with some of the more minor issues on a same-flow lane than a contraflow.

 

[Broucek]

I was specifically responding to a point on contraflow lanes, but yes I suppose you have. Although you can get away with some of the more minor issues on a same-flow lane than a contraflow.

Understood and agreed - was being playful. Badly desgined contraflow is a particularly bad idea!