white bike outlines painted on the road

[ianrauk]

I always thought they were cycle routes without cycle lanes. For example there is one that goes through the centre of Welling and I just assumed it was to signify you were still on the cycle route.

+1 to this
We have these all over London following the NCN routes

 

[CharlieB]

Remind motorists that there may be bikes around?

+1 to this
We have these all over London following the NCN routes

They don't always follow NCNs, and for that reason I think OTH's post earlier is possibly nearer the truth.

 

[Origamist]

They don't always follow NCNs, and for that reason I think OTH's post earlier is possibly nearer the truth.

They are used for both purposes. If they are not demarcating a cycle route, they are usually deployed in order raise the profile of the route as one that is popular with cyclists. They are also used to suggest to drivers and cyclists that cyclists can and should use the centre of the lane when they see fit (often when a cycle lane is not adivsable due to road width etc).

 

[Globalti]

Will they baffle motorists for a few years then die out like those white squares that appeared in the middles of the carriageways some years ago?

Sometimes I think staff of county highways departments must hold directorships at companies who make road paint.

 

[Davidc]

Its 'Cargo culture'.

A group of simpletons from the local council saw some beings on strange looking metal frame machines with a wheel at each end.
Since then they have painted images of these visitors on the road hoping for a re-appearance.

And being a primitive and simple people they have assumed that the users of this advanced and incomprehensible technology must have the status of gods, and have therefore painted the symbols representing them at the places most appropriate for kneeling down and worshiping them.

Right where the kneeler will quickly get flattened by an SUV whose driver is at the time of passing that sacred place using their mobile phone to chat to a mate about nothing in particular.

 

[summerdays]

They are used for both purposes. If they are not demarcating a cycle route, they are usually deployed in order raise the profile of the route as one that is popular with cyclists. They are also used to suggest to drivers and cyclists that cyclists can and should use the centre of the lane when they see fit (often when a cycle lane is not adivsable due to road width etc).

+1

If there is no lane marked then they are suggesting to both motorists and cyclists to share the space (not cower in the gutter) and that the cyclists have a right to be there in the middle of the lane.

 

[jimboalee]

Malvern is a cycling hotspot round these parts. The bicycle road markings will probably be numerous and have a carpark at the lower end of the trail and the hill path gate at the other. The Sunday crowd can find the carpark, but are not familiar with the route up to the hill path.
Malvern is the cultural centre for a certain type of half timber constructed automobile. Many owners come to their car's birthplace on Sundays, and are also not familiar with the roads in the area.
Lots of twiddly mountain bikers suddenly find themselves upside down in the passenger seat of a Morgan.

 

[vbc]

They've been used in South Glocs alongside off-road (shared use pavement) cycle paths to remind drivers that these cycle paths are not compulsary. A few years back, I was phsyically attacked by a driver who thought that because of the cycle path provision, I shouldn't be cycling on the road.

 

[marinyork]

They are also used on contraflow roads (without a lane) which is just the same principle as a signed route without a lane and so on.