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Is this the UK's shortest cycle lane?

Stroud's new cycle lane, painted between two school bus stops, might be Britain's shortest. Have you seen any smaller ones?...

Is this the UK's smallest bike lane?

An eight foot long cycle lane recently painted in Stroud, Gloucester, has been claimed to be the UK's shortest. 

The diminutive bike lane, on Cainscross Road, was discovered last week by cyclist Alexander Caminada.

Daubed between two school bus stops this is, of course, the latest in a long tradition of short, and apparently random cycle lanes bedecking the UK roads thanks to quirks of UK legislation.

Stroud has finally got a resurfaced Cainscross Road and look, we've now also got Britain's shortest cycle route. It's...

Posted by Alexander Caminada on Tuesday, August 11, 2015

 

Caminada feels it will do little to encourage people to cycle.

"Stroud has finally got a resurfaced Cainscross Road and look, we've now also got Britain's shortest cycle route. It's just what we need to tempt and encourage those Stroud High and Marling kids to start cycling..." he said in a post on Facebook.

The council says the tiny bike lane is part of a longer route, which continues notionally through the bus stop, but thanks to UK regulations the bus stop markings take priority over the bike lane markings.

Jason Humm, area highways manager for Gloucestershire County Council, told Stroud Life: "We appreciate the markings could be mistaken for a smaller cycle lane but they are in fact part of a longer, advisory cycle lane.

"We are keen to promote cycling around the county and this lane is part of that commitment.

"When we put cycle lanes in we consult with cycling groups on what they require. Feedback we've had shows that some form of road marking, highlighting the presence of cyclists, is better than none at all.

"Legislation prevents us from painting over bus lanes, and so the advisory cycle lane conditions continue underneath. That said, we'll be working with our contractors to bear this in mind when painting further cycle lanes in the county."

The Cainscross lane has proved such a winner you can now buy a photo of it, complete with two cyclists who have managed to simultaneously ride on it, courtesy of Caminada.

The Independent believes this minuscule bike lane takes the wooden spoon for Britain's shortest cycle lane from the previous title-holder in Plympton, Plymouth.

Apparently a matter of pride, the loss of the 8' 2" Ridgeway cycle lane's title of Britain's shortest bike lane - it acutally claims the world's shortest bike lane - has also made headlines in Plympton.

We're pretty sure there are shorter ones, however. Do share your suggestions in the comments section below (with measurements, if you have them).

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31 comments

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blinddrew | 8 years ago
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This is a better pic: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.9630149,-1.1165743,3a,75y,137.83h,61.38t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sop7gdetemlJBN-ka2lPl3g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

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blinddrew | 8 years ago
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I've always quite liked this one in York: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.962892,-1.1163886,3a,75y,346.84h,60.55t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEAgB1H7_Ft-DDuwtQabTlg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1?hl=en
The cycle lane is a bit tricky to see on the screen grab but it's under the road name. All 8 or 9 foot of it.

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Lucyslide | 8 years ago
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There's a bendy bus stop near me! A nice curve painted on a fairly tight bend. I've not seen the bus get anywhere close to fitting in it yet.  3

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zagatosam | 8 years ago
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Has anyone recorded a record with Strava for this segment yet?

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andsaw | 8 years ago
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And if you had to dis-mount at the end where the bus stop starts there's a railing in the way.

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turvy | 8 years ago
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Has anyone created a Strava segment yet?  36

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simon.thornton | 8 years ago
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It's quite clear - The Gloucestershire County Council Highwayman says :
"Legislation prevents us from painting over bus lanes, and so the advisory cycle lane conditions continue underneath"

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psling | 8 years ago
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Of course, it does show great joined-up thinking with regards to the use of public transport combined with sustainable transport. I mean, you can arrive by bus, unload your bicycle and transfer safely to your connecting bus to continue your journey.

Except you probable aren't allowed to put your bike on the bus and even if you could, you wouldn't be able to access the cycle lane because of the railings and even if you could you wouldn't be able to leave the cycle lane if a bus was occupying the next bus stop.

Oh well...

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ska1903 | 8 years ago
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Not a lane but a pretty pointless and dangerous ASZ in Dundee.

https://goo.gl/maps/AyIZ1

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HarrogateSpa | 8 years ago
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Quote:

If this is a continuation of a longer cycle lane prior to the bus stops, it seems fair enough.

Yes, assuming you accept it's a good idea to paint stretches of cycle lane where road width and other factors allow, and to provide nothing where they don't.

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JeevesBath | 8 years ago
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If this is a continuation of a longer cycle lane prior to the bus stops, it seems fair enough. The space looks just long enough for some idiot on the school run to plonk their car between the bus stops, so helps keep the area clear of badly parked cars.

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FluffyKittenofT... replied to JeevesBath | 8 years ago
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JeevesBath wrote:

If this is a continuation of a longer cycle lane prior to the bus stops, it seems fair enough. The space looks just long enough for some idiot on the school run to plonk their car between the bus stops, so helps keep the area clear of badly parked cars.

But the description says its 'advisory', so, given that even mandatory cycle lanes are regularly parked in with no enforcement that I've ever seen, how does it 'keep the area clear of badly parked cars'?

(Its kind of hard to tell if that's a solid or broken line, as its too short to have any breaks, but doesn't the report say its advisory?)

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antigee | 8 years ago
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"When we put cycle lanes in we consult with cycling groups on what they require."

as an individual who has been an active cycle facilities campaigner a lane that narrow adjacent to a railing would get a no from me - encourages non thinking passes "the bike is in their lane, I'm in mine" with no get out for cyclists

cycle lane design that put inexperienced cyclists in bad road positions isn't unique to the U. Here is one on my regular route to the beach in Melbourne, Aus - makes you thin enough for the cafe stop though

 photo MurrumbeenaRd very narrow cycle lane_zpsaj3a2yuc.jpg

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kie7077 | 8 years ago
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Enfield's contribution to absurd cycle lanes:

https://goo.gl/maps/GJSLM
https://goo.gl/maps/x9RHH

Since this is at the bottom of a hill I tend to cycle past it at about 25mph+ which makes it extra pointless.

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FluffyKittenofT... replied to kie7077 | 8 years ago
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kie7077 wrote:

Enfield's contribution to absurd cycle lanes:

https://goo.gl/maps/GJSLM
https://goo.gl/maps/x9RHH

Since this is at the bottom of a hill I tend to cycle past it at about 25mph+ which makes it extra pointless.

What is it supposed to mean? Turn at right-angles into the non-dropped kerb, or ride obliquely onto the pavement straight into the traffic light pole?

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HarrogateSpa | 8 years ago
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It is funny, but also sad that we built such desperate nonsense in the UK.

I agree it's annoying that they're trying to flog that photo on a website. It's only a photo of a bit of road.

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Airzound | 8 years ago
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It's not a cycle lane ,but a cycle parking bay.

Not a good place to be right against he nearside kerb with a bus right in front and one right behind you.

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Must be Mad | 8 years ago
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Quote:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pete.meg/wcc/facility-of-the-month/harlow-d...

Wow, that is bad. What are you forced to give way to?
But I think this one is *even more stupid* - Southampton Street in Reading:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4474386,-0.9673267,3a,75y,322.07h,95.13t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sytI7WLzuJiXjwu0NHcWGwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Spot where the mixed use cycle lane is - and how much space it has... and then look at how much road space has been willingly wasted on the 'do not use' markings.... It would have taken less paint to put in a proper cycle lane!!!

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monty dog | 8 years ago
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This gem is at the end of my road - thankfully, they moved the green box about 2 years later...

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pete.meg/wcc/facility-of-the-month/October2...

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fukawitribe | 8 years ago
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To be fair to the LA, you can clearly see the stretch of bike lane leading up to the bus bay in the photo they're flogging on alamy.com (negating much of the hilarity in the process).

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alansmurphy | 8 years ago
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atgni | 8 years ago
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I quite like this example from Oxford - although the website is full of other interesting bits of design too.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pete.meg/wcc/facility-of-the-month/August20...

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FluffyKittenofT... replied to atgni | 8 years ago
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atgni wrote:

I quite like this example from Oxford - although the website is full of other interesting bits of design too.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pete.meg/wcc/facility-of-the-month/August20...

Its the way the pointy-ends of the 'give way' markings almost touch each other that really makes that one. I'm not entirely clear what it is you are supposed to be constantly giving way to, though. Someone walking alongside you stepping in front of you every 10 yards?

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PaulBox | 8 years ago
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The local authority probably qualified for an additional government grant by adding this essential "infrastructure"...  41

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mlimburn | 8 years ago
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The one in Plymouth is actually a continuation from the pavement, I know I ride past it regularly, it actually starts at the junction of by the roundabout.

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jollygoodvelo | 8 years ago
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It won't be the shortest but this one on Shoreditch High St is my favourite: https://goo.gl/maps/tOQCa
Assuming you're using the left-hand lane (a bus lane), to go straight on you need to cross two lanes of usually fast moving traffic, thread your way into the ASZ using a two foot wide corridor, and then get away quickly or you'll be run down. Genius.

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armb | 8 years ago
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2721882/Is-Britain-s-pointless-c... claims six feet, but it depends exactly how you measure it.

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bobbypuk | 8 years ago
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Exactly where does it continue? We have a bus-stop, then a give-way, then some zig-zags, can't see beyond that but its more than a slight interruption.

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teaboy | 8 years ago
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Is it mandatory, or is there only space for one dash?

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Dnnnnnn | 8 years ago
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Never mind the hilarious length, it's barely wide enough for some mountain bike bars.

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