ASLs never had that happen before...

[cygnet]

If you read the thread carefully you will see that I have already cited HC rule 178 which clearly states "Motorists, including motorcyclists, MUST stop at the first white line reached if the lights are amber or red". Where the HC uses the word MUST it is a legal requirement, in this case the Laws are Road Traffic Act 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10, 36(1) & 43(2).

I didn't disagree with you. They only should avoid blocking the way or encroaching at other times mind.

Cyclist are only required to stop before the second line when the lights are amber or red.

You've added this bit to your original post, and it's not part of the rule - you've inferred it. Since the HC is not law, it is not necessarily definitive. e.g. just because rule 178 says "Motorists, including motorcyclists, MUST stop" does not mean cyclists are exempted.

If you read the thread carefully you will see that I had not cited anything.
However, since you found the relevant legislation for me, TRSGD 2002 reg 43(2) clearly states:
""stop line" in relation to those light signals means - (a) the first stop line, in the case of a vehicle (other than a pedal cycle proceeding in the cycle lane) which has not proceeded beyond that line; or ( the second stop line, in the case of a vehicle which has proceeded beyond the first stop line or of a pedal cycle proceeding in the cycle lane."

(my bold) which would probably be where I got my impression from.

It doesn't excuse motorists pulling up to the first stop line and then into the ASL, and as I already said, I think it's a bit daft for reasons posted above, but there you go.

 

[GrahamG]

I don't know what the legality of it is but some asl's in Edinburgh do not have feeder lanes, it makes them much better IMO.

I agree - and it's not so much an issue of legality but of how the highways engineers interpret the word 'guidance' and 'standards'. According to guidance an ASL should only be used where a cycle lane can be provided on the approach. However, there is no reason not to take the advice of guidance or standards if there is a good reason for it - the Edinburgh engineers/planners probably did the sensible thing and said they did not want to encourage undertaking or that there simply wasn't room on the carriageway. Another work around if you have somebody who is totally anally retentive reviewing/approving/auditing the design is to provide a cycle lane on the approach but make it about 30cm long.

 

[Origamist]

Another work around if you have somebody who is totally anally retentive reviewing/approving/auditing the design is to provide a cycle lane on the approach but make it about 30cm long.

A "solution" that is deployed at various ASLs...