Why you should start cycling to work

Working out of commuting, you can break up a commute with a cycle of your choice. Your commute starts at home and on a bike gives you the chance to interact with the neighborhood, catch up on emails or shop for clothes. You may make those shopping trips more efficient and actually spend less money if you pedal.

This is a reflection of the fact that it is easier to get back to work if you cycle in the morning. You also need to allow time for the remaining miles you need to go. Having a bike in the driveway or in the car might end up slowing you down! Try cycling after work with more on your mind.

This is because when you leave the house after work you often don’t have a pre-arranged route to get to your destination.

Most cyclists commute to work in the centre of a city, often in one of the main shopping streets. These streets are popular with office workers and shoppers.

At work you can simply choose to ride along the boulevard (where a bike lane is provided). Some work places have cycle lanes on main roads. Otherwise you can ride along the side of the road and parallel the front. In general, roadworks, roundabouts and traffic lights do not normally prevent cyclists from cycling along the side of the road, as long as there is no need to cross traffic, and if there is space.

Many workplaces now have safe junctions for cycling and footways for children. Bicycle parking is also available in a number of workplace, schools, universities and universities providing it is permitted. Check the workplaces in the area before entering the road. If there is no parking, try to find somewhere where it will be nice and warm.

If your destination is not in a city centre or shopping street, you may still choose to cycle along the side of the road. In this case the objective is to cross the road safely, using a suitable crossing in the middle of the road. Try to avoid traffic and avoid the danger of running into people and cars!

If you are caught off-guard, you could be severely injured or killed. This could happen if someone hits you when you are trying to turn or is at a junction. If this happens, stop immediately. Make sure you are able to control the situation. If you are not sure how to stop safely, consult a lawyer.

A small number of vehicles occasionally get stuck in cycle lanes. Cycle lanes do not go round traffic islands, but a lot of action is taken to keep vehicles out of the cycle lanes. These actions include lane filtering, raising the kerb or veering out of the road onto the cycle lane. If this happens, slow down and pay attention to the consequences.

In the ‘Cycle lanes’ map above, the yellow patches are normal cycle lanes and the green sections are carriageways. On a 2-lane road, you cannot cycle off the road because of footpaths. Make sure you don’t forget this important fact before you start.

Cycling on footpaths is not permitted on much of the Britain’s roads. However, there are a few areas in which it may be legal to ride. For example, bicycles can be ridden across footpaths in areas where no signage is visible. However, these areas are a rare exception.

The law does not prohibit cyclists from sharing footpaths with motor vehicles. So cyclists are more likely to end up in collision with a motor vehicle than a pedestrian. If you are using a cyclepath, be cautious when crossing by walking across or crossing over a vehicle’s path.

It is illegal to drive a car or van across the footpaths. And some of these roads are not set up for cyclists.

If you see a person riding on the footpaths, you should use some common sense and give them plenty of space, as is outlined in the information given on the ‘Cycle lanes’ map.

Cycle path junctions

If you are in the middle of the path when you want to turn right, you should take your foot off the pedal and let the traffic flow across your path. It is better for everyone if you can use the path from start to finish. In this way you will speed up the traffic, since motorists have to go faster to avoid being hit.

If you are on a cycle lane on the pavement, you are asked to maintain some distance from motor traffic when you approach an intersection. The cyclist should stand back when they are ready to turn right. It’s especially important on a bike-only path that is part of the road design.

Cycle paths on footpaths

Some footpaths are large enough to cycle on, and others are not large enough. Check the design and size of the pathway before you use it. You are not permitted to ride on footpaths from the point you enter the footpath to the point you leave. In this case, you should use some of the wider (12 metre) paths.

Tips for safe cycling on footpaths

Cycling on footpaths can be difficult, especially if it is a busy footpath where pedestrians are present. Therefore it is advisable to exercise caution when using a footpath.

When using a footpath, you should:

• always be prepared to take evasive action.
• take small or sideways steps in order to make turning left easier.
• keep your wheels straight and use your pedals to keep you moving, even when you do not have to make a turn.
• keep your head up and look both ways before you cross a street or when you turn left.
• use cycle lights if you can.

Some types of pedestrian crossings are better for cycling than others. If you are using a footpath, you must use a proper cycle light and follow all the rules of the road when using a pedestrian crossing.

Always be careful with wheels turning left when approaching a pedestrian crossing. If your wheels get caught in the gap between a guard and a door, you will not be able to maneuver out of the way. Instead, you risk getting caught in the door