Bath & North East Somerset has many hundreds of miles of
quiet roads which are ideal for cycling.
CYCLE LANES - These are areas of
carriageway designated and marked for use by pedal cycles. They can
be either advisory or mandatory. Cycle lanes alert drivers to the
presence of cyclists and give cyclists greater confidence. They can
be introduced to help cyclists by-pass queuing traffic and lead
cyclists to special facilities such as advanced stop lines at
traffic signals. They are most useful where there are few side
roads and no parking or loading requirements.
MANDATORY CYCLE LANES - These are marked with a
continuous white line and are supported by a
Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), which prohibit vehicles from
driving or parking in the lane. Mandatory lanes must be
discontinued at side road junctions but the use of a short length
advisory lane may preserve continuity.
ADVISORY CYCLE LANES - These are marked
with a broken white line and do not require a TRO. They can be
continued across side road junctions. Both advisory and mandatory
cycle lanes can be coloured to emphasise their presence. Cycle
lanes are generally between 1.0m and 2.0m in width depending on
flows and site characteristics although a minimum width of 1.5
metres is recommended. An additional 500mm "buffer" zone is
recommended where a cycle lane passes alongside designated parking
spaces.
CONTRA-FLOW CYCLE LANES - These are becoming
more widely used as a cycle priority measure. They are mandatory
cycle lanes which allow cyclists to travel against the prevailing
flow of traffic in one-way streets, within the designated lane.
CONTRA-FLOW CYCLE STREETS - These are a
relatively new innovation. They can be introduced in lightly
trafficked roads where the site characteristics prevent the
introduction of a formal contra-flow lane. they do not effect
existing parking arrangements and are defined by signing and cycle
markings at intervals
CYCLE PATHS - In some circumstances it may be
considered unsafe to designate areas of carriageway as cycle lanes.
Where pedestrian flows are relatively low it may be appropriate to
provide a cycleway on the footway. It is recommended that footways
are at least 3 metres wide if a cycle path is to be considered but,
in practice they may be accommodated on narrower footways when
flows and site characteristics permit. Cycle paths may be one or
two-way. Cyclists and pedestrians may be segregated by a white line
or some other feature or may share the full width of the footway.
In either case complimentary advisory signing is normally
provided.
CYCLE TRACKS - These are traffic-free,
off-highway cycle routes normally shared with pedestrians. The
Bristol to Bath Railway Path is a prime example of a successful
cycle track. It forms a vital link in the National Cycle Network
(NCN) and provides a high quality, safe pedestrian and cycle route,
encouraging people of all ages and ability to walk and cycle, both
for short and longer journeys, for leisure and
commuting.
