Cycling facilities are features designed to make cycling easier, safer and more enjoyable. Some provide a dedicated space for people riding bikes, while others help cyclists share space more safely with pedestrians, horse riders and motor vehicles.
Cycle facility design guidance in England was amended by Government in 2020 with the release of Local Transport Note 1/20: Cycle Infrastructure Design. This guidance is intended to support, not replace, our role as the Local Transport and Highway Authority in deciding the best cycling arrangements on our network. When planning improvements, we will tailor the design of cycling facilities to suit local needs, available funding and other relevant factors.
You can find cycle facilities near you by using our interactive Cycle Facility Map. The types of cycle facility shown below are illustrative examples taken from the new guidance.
Cycle tracks
A cycle track is a space set aside for cycling next to a road. It is separate from both the road used by vehicles and the pavement used by pedestrians. Cycle tracks should be clearly designed so people can easily see that they are for cycling, not walking, driving or parking. This can be done by building them at a different height from the road or pavement, using a different surface material, or separating them from other traffic with a kerb or grass verge.
Cycle lanes
Cycle lanes are marked with painted lines on the road to give cyclists their own space alongside other traffic. Advisory cycle lanes, shown with broken white lines, can usually be used by other vehicles when needed. Mandatory cycle lanes, marked with solid white lines, should not normally be entered by other vehicles. Updated government guidance recommends adding features such as flexible bollards (known as wands) to give cyclists extra protection. It also advises that new cycle lanes should mainly be used on roads with lower speed limits.
Shared footways
People are not normally allowed to cycle on the footway (pavement). However, cycling can be allowed if signs clearly show that it is permitted. Current guidance says that new shared footways, where people walk and cycle in the same space, should generally not be used in towns and cities. This is because they work best only in places where relatively few people are walking or cycling.
Greenways
A 'greenway' is a name often given to a cycle facility that is away from the road altogether. Greenways can be cycle tracks but are often bridleways or byways with a surface suitable for cycling, or wide paths that are technically footpaths and cycle tracks adjacent to one another.
Quiet streets and lanes
On quiet streets and lanes, where traffic flows and speeds are both low, it is normally comfortable for bicycle users to share the carriageway with other vehicles. This can be supported with traffic calming measures as appropriate.
Supporting infrastructure
In addition to providing facilities for travelling along a route, supporting infrastructure at specific points along a route can help make it easier to cycle, including:
- crossing points
- junction improvements
- wayfinding (information to help you navigate)
- transition features (where one cycle facility meets another)
- cycle parking
- traffic calming