Red Route Cycle Lanes

Amarillo · Jun 23, 2022

At last TfL are targeting errant use of mandatory cycle lanes in London.

It should be a cash bonanza for financially beleaguered TfL.

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Dear [Amarillo],

Your safety is important to us. So from 27 June, we may issue a fine to motor vehicles caught driving in a cycle lane on a TfL red route when not permitted.

Only cyclists and rental electric scooters can use cycle lanes. All other road users, including motorcycles and other types of scooters, are not permitted to use cycle lanes. Black taxis and Private Hire Vehicles are permitted to enter to pick up and drop off customers.

We may issue a fine to motorists who:
Drive within, or cross, the solid white line of a cycle lane when not permitted
Stop or park in a cycle lane when not permitted
The fine for red route traffic offences paid within 28 days is £160. If the fine is paid within 14 days, it will be reduced to £80.

Find out more about the rules of cycle lanes.

Yours sincerely,

Road User Charging Team
Transport for London

andyinluton · Jun 23, 2022

It would be good if mandatory actually meant mandatory for cyclists to use them.

Amarillo · Jun 23, 2022

andyinluton said:
It would be good if mandatory actually meant mandatory for cyclists to use them.

It would make turning right off a road with a MCL interesting for cyclists if using the main carriageway was prohibited.

andyinluton · Jun 23, 2022

Amarillo said:
It would make turning right off a road with a MCL interesting for cyclists if using the main carriageway was prohibited.

Just as bad as for motorists turning left.

Amarillo · Jun 23, 2022

andyinluton said:
Just as bad as for motorists turning left.

The solid white lines (mandatory cycle lane) become broken white lines (optional cycle lane) at junctions.

If I recall correctly, the Dutch ban cycling on certain roads where there is a parallel cycle lane. It works well there where there is a good comprehensive cycle network.

There are also a limited number of A roads in London which ban cycling. The A102 and the A12 are obvious examples even though there is no parallel cycle lane.