[Closed] So is it a cycle lane? Weird lane markings.

I'd presume a cycle route rather than a lane - presumable linking bit of cycle lane proper and guiding bikes along low-traffic routes maybe

There are 3 sets of these along a couple of hundred yards of road. No marked cycle lanes or cycle paths on this or adjoining roads. It's a quiet road, much quieter than the roads it joins which are not similarly marked.

Nope. They are there to remind people not to run over people on bikes. Bit like slow signs and the like.

They look quite bright - are they freshly painted and theres more cycle route to come?

I am more worried by how grumpy the tree face looks.

We have loads of those useless bloody markings round here - I’m sure i read somewhere that it meant ‘cycles permitted’ .. yeah, i know i know.

"So is it a cycle lane? "

No. Those markings are better used to remind motorists at junctions and in the context of your photo I don't see the point

They've cost money, they'll now need to be maintained at more expense, and all at a time when local authority budgets are being cut

We have similar markings, called "Cycle sharrows" here but they're mainly in town and the general idea is to remind motorists that cyclists can take the lane to avoid parked cars and other hazards.

The ones in your pic look a bit redundant though..

https://wellington.govt.nz/services/parking-and-roads/cycling/cycling-safety/sharrow-road-markings

Isn't it meant to basically be a cycle lane, but where you are not expected to cycle in the gutter?  I've seen some examples (online) where they scatter cycle markings all over the road where there are loads of bikes or the road is to narrow to pass cyclists, so that you can ride down the road without having to ride in the gutter or get aggro from drivers.

is that Richmond? Brockley?  In this context they are referred to as 'repeater markings', and they usually  have two uses:

To confirm  to cyclists you are on a cycle route (the old London cycle network used them a great deal)

A cheap way to remind drivers there are cyclists about (i.e it is a dedicated /known route that cyclists use).

Both are an outdated way of thinking now really.

Some people did use them as others have said to remind cyclists to get out of the gutter...!

Re: Sharrows. at a cycle planning conference I went to it was suggested the word is a portmanteau of 'shit arrows'.

🙂

Cycle route.

The tree looks very peeved indeed.

A generously wide, two-way cycle lane, the end of cars is nigh. 😉

Seen them used where cycling is permitted in both directions on an otherwise one-way street- where they can be useful.

Looking at the definitive manual for UK road markings, it's the road marking for a cycle lane, but used out of context. There should be a line (solid or broken) to show whether keeping out of the cycle lane is mandatory or advisory for vehicles.

The tree looks very peeved indeed.

More of a weary but knowing wink I thought.

As if he's seen the picture being taken and is empathising with the photographer about how pointless and futile the ennui of existence is.

incorrect Greybeard. 1057 markings should , strictly speaking according to best practice, be used with a 967 sign, but that is guidance and does not have to be adhered to.

Here's a classic on my commute - a half painting of a bike. A sticky out bit of kerb with a "cycle lane" post on it. What does it all mean? This road is usually a queue of cars down to the roundabout

and as you get to the roundabout, there's a bit of red paint. Pretty typical road position from the red car, although usually they need a bit more space to avoid the bollards on their right, so have 2 wheels right on the red paint. *sigh*

OK so Stockport MBC responded to my query thus:

"Hi, these markings are just advising the road is for dual use. These markings made the road users aware of cyclists and also make cyclists aware to use the road. Thank you".

WTF is dual use? You mean like all the other roads around here that don't have those markings?

Not as cultured in Stockport as in London obvs.

Looking at the definitive manual for UK road markings, it’s the road marking for a cycle lane, but used out of context. There should be a line (solid or broken) to show whether parking in the cycle lane is mandatory or advisory for vehicles.

ftfy

They’ve cost money,

you know what - when I'm elected king of this island (and its when, not if) I shall decree....

: Cease all spending on cycling infrastructure for 5 years and stick the money in an ISA instead

: Spend those 5 years getting everyone who has a role in implementing cycling infrastructure to talk to one another and work out and agree exactly what they're doing, who its for and how it should be done

: Spend the next five years infrastructure budget and effort erasing anything and everything that falls outside of that agreed strategy - whether is a superhighway or a a sustrans sign pointing cyclist down a route that hasn't been built.

: Then dip into that ISA and do it properly and with consistency in a way that makes sense to everyone, everywhere.

I don't think anywhere theres a motorway intersection or a set of railway points of an airport runway why where the person in charge of designing it said at interview "I don't really have any qualifications or experience in motorway intersection regulations or design but I've seen a few nice ideas on pinterest and I've a few ideas of my own I want to try out... have you ever been to Alton Towers? You have? well, picture the scene....."

I’d presume a cycle route rather than a lane – presumable linking bit of cycle lane proper and guiding bikes along low-traffic routes maybe

Get these round my way also  (London). Normally means as above, 'cycling friendly' roads linking up to make  a cycle route that included bike paths etc. TFL used to produce maps of the routes, I'm guessing to encourage people to commute on their bikes more. They were quite a big thing before they started building the Cycle Superhighways.

I’d presume a cycle route rather than a lane – presumable linking bit of cycle lane proper and guiding bikes along low-traffic routes maybe

Get these round my way also  (London). Normally means as above, ‘cycling friendly’ roads linking up to make  a cycle route that included bike paths etc.

Thats the example I was thinking of - in some instances they seemed to indicate the route cyclists preferred to take between points rather than any formally planned infrastructure. But if those markings aren't part of a wider scheme then thats less useful.

These markings made the road users aware of cyclists

Interesting that they think some white paint is a better way to make someone aware of cyclists than actual human cyclists.

Interesting that they think some white paint is a better way to make someone aware of cyclists than actual human cyclists.

They do have a habit of wearing all black and making themselves almost invisible where I live so it could actually be a better way.

Yeah, black, that cloak of complete invisibility. Much like red, white, green, orange, blue, purple, pink, yellow, brown etc, when worn by cyclists.

Dezb you must live/work my way 🙂 that's Purbrook. If I cycle in, I use back roads through the heath.