Cycle lanes
On busier streets traffic volumes and / or speeds may be at a level that is likely to require a degree of separation from motor traffic, such that cycle lanes may be appropriate to provide cyclists with safe and comfortable space.
Where provided, cycle lanes should be a minimum of 1.5m wide, continuous, made conspicuous across side roads at junctions and not abandon cyclists where roads become narrow, for example at right turning lanes. Where cycle lanes are being introduced, the cost of remedial measures to the carriageway surface should be included within the scheme budget.
Consideration should be given to the removal of centrelines as an option where carriageway widths do not permit the introduction of cycle lanes of adequate width whilst retaining two general traffic lanes. Advice on the removal of centrelines can be found in:
- Cardiff Cycle Design Guide, Cardiff Council, 2011 (pdf)
- Cycling England Design Guidance: A.12 Removal of Road Centrelines (pdf)
- Urban Best Practice: Core Traffic Lanes, 2007: Case studies of a number of schemes where cycle lanes have been provided and the centre line removed, in the UK and abroad.
- Removing Centre Lines, Cycling England Case Study
Other Key references:
- Cycling England Design Guidance: A.11 Cycle Lanes (pdf)
- Cycling Infrastructure Design, LTN 2/08, DfT 2008 (pdf - Ch 6, 7)
- Connect 2 and Greenway Design Guide, Sustrans 2009 (Ch 9, 11)
- National Cycle Network: Guidelines and Practical Details, Sustrans 1997 (Ch 4, 7)
- London Cycling Design Standards, TfL 2005 (pdf - Ch 4).
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