Where does the cycle lane start?

[Cab]

When judging how wide a cycle lane is, where do you start and stop measuring? Do you measure from the pavement? From the edge of the gutter? How far out is that? Do you measure to the inside or the outside of the white line?

 

[eldudino]

I'd say from the outside edge of the kerb to the inside edge of the white line. You're not supposed to cross a solid white line though I don't know how that works with cyclists as you may need to leave the cycle lane and being in them isn't obligatory. I seem to remember hearing people being done for touching the white line with a wheel on twisty bits of road by over-zealous coppers.

 

[biking_fox]

Probably depends on what your aim in measuring it is. If it's to show the council just how badly designed it is I'd look for the smallest 'reasonable' measurement possible. Eg outside edge of yellow lines, to inside edge of white. (yellow lines mark the edge of the road)

 

[Origamist]

Cab, it's kerb face to the centre of the cycle lane marking/line.

 

[jimboalee]

Probably depends on what your aim in measuring it is. If it's to show the council just how badly designed it is I'd look for the smallest 'reasonable' measurement possible. Eg outside edge of yellow lines, to inside edge of white. (yellow lines mark the edge of the road)

Yellow lines denote there are parking and stopping restrictions along that stretch of carriageway.

The kerb or a continuous white line signify the road's edge. Or even a grass verge...

 

[stowie]

On some of the cycle lanes near me, measuring from the outside edge of the white line instead of the inside edge could double the width measurement of the cycle lane...

 

[gaz]

I think the cycle lane going up park lane towards marble arch is less than 50cm in width!

 

[Cab]

Hmmm... So the uncyclable bit by a kerb is actually part of the road proper?

Thats a shame. It means that some cycle lanes with minimal effective width (and which are therefore dreadful) are 'technically' closer to being 'good' facilities.

I asked 'cos I overheard a team of blokes painting a cycle lane on a while ago, and they were unclear where to measure the line to or from.

 

[Origamist]

I see there has been a fruitless search for a 2m cycle lane in Cambridge:

http://garethrees.org/2008/10/22/cycle-lanes/

 

[stowie]

The amazing thing with some of the narrow cycle lanes around by me is that there is absolutely no need for it to be so narrow. They could be 2m wide without any issues at all.

If I was a more cynical soul, I would say that the council have no idea what they are doing..

 

[Cab]

I see there has been a fruitless search for a 2m cycle lane in Cambridge:

http://garethrees.org/2008/10/22/cycle-lanes/

Excellent B) I hadn't seen that. Doesn't surprise me at all, though.