What is the new guidance from Active Travel England (ATE) on road lane widths?

The new guidance from ATE recommends that standard 12ft road lanes in the UK should either be narrowed to no less than 10ft 8in or expanded to at least 12ft 10in, in order to prevent motorists from overtaking cyclists and improve safety.

How will the new road lane guidance from ATE be implemented?

The new guidance will be applied to future road building schemes across the UK, and local authorities that do not comply with the recommendations could face reduced transport funding from the government.

What are the concerns raised by motoring groups about the new road lane guidance?

Motoring groups such as the Alliance of British Drivers and FairFuelUK have criticized the new guidance, arguing that it will worsen traffic congestion, lead to more conflicts between drivers and cyclists, and negatively impact small businesses and the high street.

Home / Business and Economy / Road Lanes to Shrink Nationwide to Boost Cyclist Safety

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

Road Lanes to Shrink Nationwide to Boost Cyclist Safety

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.