22 Ridiculous London Cycle Lanes That Hate Cyclists
Most of London is badly designed for cycling, but these bike routes stand out as being utterly horrible to ride. Or just plain ridiculous.
1. If you cycle in London, you'll know the capital's bike lanes can leave a lot to be desired.
Had to laugh at this baffling bit of cycle infrastructure in Romford (via: http://t.co/iWzdIPRMDj )
londoncyclist@londoncyclistFollow
Had to laugh at this baffling bit of cycle infrastructure in Romford (via: http://t.co/iWzdIPRMDj )
11:45 AM - 1 Apr 14RetweetFavorite
2. This one will take you from the bonnet of that Renault to the back door of that postman's van.

So it's not surprising that Croydon's town planners don't expect people to be cycling very far.
3. This lane in East London sometimes turns into a personal canal when it rains.
Yesterday's Cycle Superhighway Canal...and....
aviewoflondon@sw19camFollow
Yesterday's Cycle Superhighway Canal...and....
05:59 PM - 21 Nov 13RetweetFavorite
4. In London, bike lanes can also double has a handy parking space for cars.
I'm unsure why Waterloo Bridge turns in to a car park on Sundays but it's good to hear it may soon be a thing of past
londoncyclist@londoncyclistFollow
I'm unsure why Waterloo Bridge turns in to a car park on Sundays but it's good to hear it may soon be a thing of past
07:30 AM - 11 Jan 14RetweetFavorite
5. Sometimes a taxi-rank is thrown in for good measure, too.

So you can get a taxi home when you realise how bad the infrastructure is.
6. Camden managed to design a lane that orders cyclists to crash into each other.

Cycle down to Tavistock Place if you want to weave around other oncoming cyclists.
7. It seems like whatever designers try, nothing will keep cars out of bike lanes.
Why 'segregation-lite' should only really be a temporary step towards 'segregation proper' pic by @Adh1907
Mark Treasure@AsEasyAsRidingFollow
Why 'segregation-lite' should only really be a temporary step towards 'segregation proper' pic by @Adh1907
09:19 PM - 11 Mar 14RetweetFavorite
8. When those designers aren't actively putting things in your way, that is.
Here's the dreadful addition to @lambeth_council bike route 3 at 6:15 this morning. Imagine this at rush hour. Mad
cyclistsinthecity@citycyclistsFollow
Here's the dreadful addition to @lambeth_council bike route 3 at 6:15 this morning. Imagine this at rush hour. Mad
07:00 AM - 5 Nov 13RetweetFavorite
9. ...often for apparently no reason.
Embarrassing cycle infrastructure @BikemindedRBKC Could you sort this out please? https://t.co/J7dyVXxknk
Two Wheels Good blog@TwoWheelsGoodUKFollow
Embarrassing cycle infrastructure @BikemindedRBKC Could you sort this out please? https://t.co/J7dyVXxknk
06:29 PM - 13 Jun 13RetweetFavorite
10. They give with one hand, and take away with the other.
1/2 Cycling in Lynton Road, Haringey today I spotted this dangerous looking cycle farcility
KenningtonPplOnBikes@KenningtonPOBFollow
1/2 Cycling in Lynton Road, Haringey today I spotted this dangerous looking cycle farcility
08:35 PM - 8 Jun 13RetweetFavorite
11. The guys who do the signs need to talk to the guys who do the bike lanes. I’m looking at you, Stratford.

Fittingly, this was built for the Olympics.
12. The designer of this lane at least understands that lampposts are solid objects.

Nine Elms Lane in Vauxhall, everybody.
13. Everything has to make way for car parking.

Even if it means riding into the back of cars, like on this flagship 'Cycle Superhighway' on Poplar High Street.
14. At least someone is enjoying this lane.

These coaches are parked on Prince Albert Road in Camden every day, honest. Even the Google Streetview van caught them.
15. Sometimes you wonder why they even bothered.

Thanks, Oval.
16. And sometimes you really wish they hadn't bothered.
It's like they've actually tried to make cycling in the Olympic Park as shit as possible
Hackney Cyclist@HackneycyclistFollow
It's like they've actually tried to make cycling in the Olympic Park as shit as possible
06:41 PM - 1 Aug 13RetweetFavorite
17. Some designers seem to think blue paint will magically keep cyclists safe.

Like this paint at Aldgate.
18. Sometimes they won't even shell out for the blue stuff. This one's under a taxi.

19. It often feels like the people designing these things have never ridden a bike before.
Your LSTF money, hard at work, giving farcical infrastructure a fresh coat of paint
Mark Treasure@AsEasyAsRidingFollow
Your LSTF money, hard at work, giving farcical infrastructure a fresh coat of paint
03:01 PM - 5 Apr 14RetweetFavorite
20. And in a few cases? It seems like they've never SEEN a bike.
Cycle route, UK-style. I'd say this has been well and truly cycle-proofed:
Schrà½inger's Cat@AlternativeDfTFollow
Cycle route, UK-style. I'd say this has been well and truly cycle-proofed:
01:03 PM - 14 Oct 13RetweetFavorite
21. Some lanes are so baffling you need an instruction booklet to make sense of them.
Spotted this earlier. Left, left, left and left again to turn right. Interesting
cyclistsinthecity@citycyclistsFollow
Spotted this earlier. Left, left, left and left again to turn right. Interesting
10:36 PM - 15 Apr 14RetweetFavorite
22. But full marks to this one in Bethnal Green, which is filled with lampposts and parking ticket machines.
Rumour has it that it was built solely to provide patients for the local A&E.