Drivers give cyclists more space on roads without central markings, study finds

Bez wrote:

No surprises. People heed lines, they feel reassured by them, that if they obey them they're fulfilling their legal obligation.

That's why they don't like crossing centre lines, or lane lines, but also why many think the lines on painted bike lanes are fine to go right up to: the line says, "you're just dandy up to here".

Of course, the line also means that if others cross them, they're viewed as transgressing in terms of responsibility as well, and so they're fair game. Swerve to avoid that broken glass in the narrow bike lane and you're basically changing lanes just as you would on the motorway: the people around you are guided by the lines to be less tolerant of it.

Painted lines along the direction of travel emphasise laminar flow: smooth, efficient, but poorly suited to coping with disruption.

Hasn't been my observation. Mostly cars overtake me allowing as much room as is available. They'll happily cross white line and give me more space if there's nothing oncoming, but if there is something coming, they're going anyway.

Cambridge has certainly got some places where the presence of a bike lane persuaded cars to move over, such as newly-painted lanes on East Rd after resurfacing. It might not be safety exactly, but there is generally a much clearer line to pass stationary traffic where there are cycle lanes.

But I think this whole thing is getting perilously close to shared-space thinking. If you don't have clear markings, some drivers might take more care (the most worrying will just bully people regardless, using lack of rules as justification). Get it wrong and you get a prang at low speeds.

But if you have big open spaces without marking and you're a vulnerable road user, you might just avoid it entirely, or decide not to walk/cycle. Even low-speed collisions can result in injury.

The uncertainty that modifies driver behaviour creates the same uncertainty in vulnerable road users, but to worse effect.

And let us not forget the vehicular cyclist. I am one when appropriate, for reasons of practicality rather than preference. It is still a valid and necessary way of cycling on our busier roads until they are designed better. You cannot control a lane if there is no lane. If I'm trying to indicate to the car behind not to overtake because I'm positioned for straight-on, I cannot do that without markings: you just end up floating in the middle of the road, vulnerable from all sides.