Cycle lane, Epsom Road, Leatherhead
Could this possibly be the UK's most ridiculous bike lane? Epsom Road in Leatherhead, Surrey, has a new cycling facility, and it's great - as long as you don't actually want to ride on it.
The lane has been installed on a stretch of existing pavement in the Surrey town, and is positioned at the edge of the walkway so that it includes all of the street furniture. Street lights, barriers, traffic lights and bollards are all right in the centre of the lane.
But it's okay, some thoughtful soul has painted white chevron markings on the ground to warn you of their presence in your path.
And all of this weaves its way through bus stops, road crossings and outside a local school.
As you can see from the photographs, there actually isn't enough room to ride a bike along the path. Unless you remove your handlebars. It's a marvel to behold.
Needless to say, the local Mole Valley Cycling Group who sent us the photos are not amused by this stunning new facility.
Have you seen a more ridiculous cycle lane? Then send us your photos: nigel_wynn@ipcmedia.com
Lamp post and bollards: Great for slalom, and it's right outside a school
Painting a picture of a bike on a pavement does not a cycle lane make
Where exactly are you supposed to ride? Into the traffic light, onto the pavement or into the road?
Helpful white markings warn you that you are about to collide with a street lamp. Perfect entertainment for those waiting at the bus stop
Reader comments
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tom jones
March 23 11:28
!Nice Who took the pictures?
Brian Digby
March 23 11:53
Dear Cycling Weekly Please….maybe your tandem is just half full...!!! Maybe, just maybe, any space allocated to cyclists is a welcome change of thinking, and just maybe we can support councils in there early stage of change. Or do we just criticize and alienate all non-cyclists, and continue to distance ourselves in a parochial, self-protective stance from which there is no return. What role does Cycling Weekly think is has to encourage others to think is a positive, inclusive fashion???
Hovis
March 23 12:35
Cycle lanes on pavements are not suitable for anyone riding at speeds more than about 5mph even without the street furniture. Riding on what is essentially the pavement is dangerous. Dog walkers, inattentive pedestrians and broken glass all add to the hazards. I suppose they serve the purpose of keeping young kids away from the road on their way to school, but they are best ignored completely by the vast majority of cyclists. Trouble is that many drivers expect us to be on them instead of the road.
Alex Lopez
March 23 13:02
This spanish cycle lane is even better http://bit.ly/abK2J1
Mark Whitmarsh
March 23 13:03
In this case I think the so-called "space allocated to cyclists" is just a box-ticking exercise by the council. Why should we welcome something that is woefully inadequate and likely to cause any cyclists attempting to use the cycle lane to come into conflict with non-cyclists? I think Cycling Weekly is right to ridicule this frankly pathetic attempt. Hopefully someone has pointed all this out to the authorities concerned. It does make you wonder what guidelines there are for cycling lane marking and whether anybody followed them in this case.
ERM
March 23 13:16
I like the way they couldn't even fit the cycle logo in the lane so had to squash the front wheel. Brian: I think most would commend any local council who made it safer to cycle whether on the road on in separate lanes. But creating more mileage of cycle lanes so you can tell everyone (local voters) that you're doing a great job when these cycle lanes are ill thought out and possibly dangerous does not help anyone. Personally I have been hit by a car on such an ill thought out cycle lane because it was 'designed' so badly. I know this sounds like I'm a 'typical moany cyclist', and maybe I am, but: 'You wouldn't get away with building a road like that.' Or a footpath for that matter. Q: Are there any regulations on the design of safe cyclepaths? I know TfL have done some guidelines but is there anything more concrete out there, or nationwide.
nik b
March 23 13:52
The best UK collection is here: http://www.warringtoncyclecampaign.co.uk/ click on Facility of the Month, scroll down to the Archive and pick a month from 2001. Be amazed!
Ken Evans
March 23 18:09
"Is this the UK's most ridiculous cycle lane?" No ! There are some even more stupid ones in central London. "Cycle lanes on pavements are not suitable for anyone riding at speeds more than about 5mph even without the street furniture." Not true. There are very many kilometres on them in continental Europe, that are used by millions of people every day !
Andrew Fraser
March 24 09:05
As one involved in traffic management professionally, I despair. How on earth could this reach the streets? Is it a joke? Or is this simply another consequence of a local authority so damaged by central governmnet interference that it can neither longer attract and sustain staff of [a sufficiently] high calibre, [nor accumulate adequate] resources for dealing with roads and their problems (to paraphrase Professor O'Flaherty)?
Chrias Bennett
March 24 13:55
I ride that route most days. It's not just the cycle lane that's a joke ( and it is, it simply couldn't be ridden). The double yellows that have been added to the road are crazy too. Just at the worst part of the pinch point they stop for about a car's length creating one isolated and totally disruptive parking space. I think they will be burning the lines off again shortly.