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Road Lanes to Shrink Nationwide to Boost Cyclist Safety
16 Nov
Summary
- Official guidance recommends narrowing standard 12ft lanes to 10ft 8in or expanding to 12ft 10in
- Aims to prevent motorists from overtaking cyclists, seen as safety risk
- Guidance will apply to future road building schemes, with funding cuts for non-compliant councils
In a move that has sparked controversy, the UK government has quietly published new guidance that calls for narrowing standard road lanes across the country. The guidance, issued last week by Active Travel England (ATE), a government agency, states that the traditional 12ft lane width is no longer appropriate due to the safety risks posed to cyclists.
Under the new recommendations, local roads should either shrink to no less than 10ft 8in wide or expand to at least 12ft 10in. The rationale behind this is to make it clear to motorists that there is insufficient space to safely overtake cyclists, while also encouraging cyclists to ride more centrally on the road.
The guidance, which will be applied to future road building schemes, has angered motoring groups who warn that the changes will dramatically worsen traffic congestion and lead to more conflicts between drivers and cyclists. Critics argue that the measures unfairly penalize motorists and fail to address the need for better cooperation and road safety education for all users.
Despite the backlash, the government has defended the new guidance, stating that there have never been legally binding standards for road widths and that the changes are aimed at improving safety for cyclists. The Department for Transport has also highlighted its recent investments in road maintenance and new road schemes across the country.
