Cycling zones: Making it illegal for cars to overtake bikes

How do you create a bikeable town or city without the need for costly infrastructure or additional road space?

The Belgian city of Bruges this week transformed 90 of its streets into a cycling zone - an area in which all motor vehicles must yield to bikes. In the zone, cyclists not only have the right to ride in the middle of the lane, but motorists are not allowed to overtake them. This simple and cost-effective way of creating cycle-friendly streets is gaining traction in Europe, with many recognising it as a quick and easy alternative to building dedicated cycling lanes.

In Bruges, the only thing local authorities have needed to do to launch the 20mph cycling zone is change signage and road markings.

{{cta-cycling}}

Paint is not protection

The worst examples of substandard cycling infrastructure do no better a job at creating safe spaces for cycling than our Heath Robinson-inspired self-laying cycle lane.

All too often, poorly designed cycle lanes take circuitous routes, are poorly maintained and often parked in by cars so it’s little wonder that most experienced cyclists tend to avoid them. In fact, it will come as little surprise to anyone who rides a bike, but cycle lanes can make roads more dangerous for cyclists.

It’s reason we like this seasonal idea from Transportation Alternatives….

When it comes to bike lanes, paint is not protection.

So when we found ourselves with too many pumpkins this Halloween, there was only one thing we could do... pic.twitter.com/1fGDD8JB7E

— Transportation Alternatives (@TransAlt) October 31, 2021

Over a decade ago a study by Leeds and Bolton universities came to the conclusion that ‘cycle lanes do not appear to provide greater space for cyclists in all conditions’. Researchers attached a camera to the back of a bicycle and rode along roads that had stretches with and without cycle lanes. They found that when there was no cycle lane, drivers tended to give riders a wider berth. When there was a cycle lane, motorists drove closer to the bikes.

Most of Britain’s cycle lanes do not comply with the width of 1.5m (5ft) recommended by the Department for Transport.

The study suggested reducing the speed of traffic would do more to improve cycle safety than narrow cycle lanes.

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

{{cta-cycling}}