Rules Re Cycle Paths

[dmbhunt]

I regularly turn from a main road into a side road where a designated cycle path crosses. My thinking is that as the cycle path is on both sides of the pavement so to speak it is continuous but who has right of way? Pedestrians do, but I note that most of the cyclists just hare along and don't even bother to look ( this at 7.30am when it is still dark) Cannot see any guidance in the Highway Code.

[Buenchico]

The cycle lane counts as part of the public highway. Think of it as being 'Lane 1' of the road, with cars moving in the same direction being in 'Lane 2'. It's then clear that cars turning across Lane 1 would be 'cutting up' any cyclists that they failed to give way to. i.e. cyclist proceeding straight ahead have priority over turning traffic.

[LazyGun]

Pedestrians only have right of way if they have begun to cross the carriageway/are on the carriageway itself; And I would expect that cyclists should be treated as pedestrians in this instance, ie they should give way to you if they are approaching the junction, but that you should give way to them if they are on the carriageway itself.

Rule 170 of the highway code is the appropriate rule, I think, but you are correct in that it does not explicitly mention cyclists.

https://www.gov.uk/using-the-road-159-to-203/road-junctions-170-to-183

[DrFilth]

chris may be right but a car, van bus etc has a lot more metal round its engine so i think i would let them have the right of way

[AB Editor]

Is the cyclepath part of the path and broken by the road, or is the cyclepath on the road and continuous?

Usually the "path" based cyclepaths will have "give way" markings for the bikes when they meet a road.

[SeaJayPea]

The law's quite precise about this. Riding a bicycle on the footpath is illegal, except where the pavement is clearly marked for the purpose. So you should dismount, walk across the pavement, then remount and proceed.

Nobody's going to do this, of course. Taking it very carefully would probably be OK, if against the law. One thing that always puzzles me is, if somebody's knocked flying by a cyclist and disabled, is the cyclist covered by his/her household policy? Or does the victim have to sue?

[woofgang]

i think that depends on the policy. mine doesn't cover me but then i dont cycle

[Buenchico]

>>>Riding a bicycle on the footpath is illegal, except where the pavement is clearly marked for the purpose

Riding a bike on a footpath is only illegal by default where that footpath runs alongside a public highway (which it forms part of). Riding a bike on other public footpaths is perfectly legal unless there are signs prohibiting it.

As has been indicated above, some cycle paths have 'Give Way' lines where they cross side roads. Under such circumstances turning traffic has priority. In other cases cycle paths are marked as continuing directly across side roads, thus forming an inner lane of the carriageway with cyclists having priority over turning traffic. (Much of my work involves interviewing cyclists and pedestrians on cycle paths and taking photographs of those paths. Kent seems to have mainly continuous paths, with no 'Give Way' lines whereas Suffolk has more 'Give Way' lines)

[dmbhunt]

I treat the cyclists as pedestrians and accord them the right of way as it is designated as a cycle path on a pavement, rather than a cycle lane. Must ask my local community police officer when I next run into him. Certainly when I learnt to drive eons ago my instructor told me that pedestrians had the right of way even of they were not already crossing but in those days cycle lanes and cycle paths on pavements did not exist. Anyway even if it was not a cyclists right of way I see a lot at that early hour who take it upon themselves to decide red traffic lights are optional and go through or weave to try and stop you passing for no good reason other than they are arrogant and dangerous.

[SeaJayPea]

I read this originally as if the OP were a cyclist enquiring about crossing a footpath. I see that may have been incorrect. But that's the question I answered.