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Cyclist Advanced Stop Lines – we’ve put in quite a few of these over the past 10 years or so. A lot are now poorly marked and I’d like to decide if they are worth remarking or taking out – in theory. I’ve looked online for research papers as to their effectiveness – both UK and internationally. Not found anything robust – closest is Dublin 2021 report on “Precarious permission”, mentioning ASLs as part of the infrastructure for cyclists which may be seen as putting them in more precarious position. Good news is that we have money for remarking road markings this year – just want to have a basis to make best decision. Thanks!
These have always worried me. I do not think it wise to encourage cyclists to “undertake” other vehicles under any circumstances, but the nearside approach lanes to the “reservoirs” seem to legitimise the practice.
I can’t find anything authoritative on the safety of the arrangement, either, but these might help you to make the bold decision you want to make:
https://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/dictionary/advanced-stop-line
https://content.tfl.gov.uk/behavour-at-advanced-stop-lines-summary.pdfAs a cyclist (using a tandem) I always simply stayed in lane, where I could be seen and my movements were predictable. I’ve never really understood the need for ASLs. I’d take them out.
Hi Keith,
As someone who cycles around east London (while working as a road safety officer) in 20/30 mph zones, I find them very useful and usually well respected by drivers, unfortunetly not so by P2W riders.
As long as it is safe to filter into them (making sure the lights are not about to change and there is space in them), we encourage their use in order to get away from the congestion and be more visable.
They don’t seem to be enforced, but I personally think “good will” behaviour makes them very useful and they are well used by the cyclists in our area.Hi Keith
It may not help your budget but without the critical mass of users that Max would see in London I have found that ASLs only work with the advance green signal for cyclists. In Edinburgh these have been installed at 3 secs prior to full signal change but I would suggest a 5 sec allows all cycle users to get to a pace. They have no been installed on all signals as yet but more on key routes.
worth a consideration.
I’m an everyday cycle user in Sheffield, and my experience of ASL’s is as follows:
– The feeder cycle lane and ASL is particularly and consistently useful to help me avoid being ‘left hooked’ by left turning vehicles at junctions where I am going to go straight ahead.
– I don’t find any problem with ‘undertaking’ in the feeder cycle lane, provided it is of the proper dimensions, clearly marked and clear of queuing vehicles (usually is), and only very occassionaly does the situation arise where the lights change as I am approaching by using the feeder lane, in which case I indicate, move into, and take up a place in the traffic lane.
If this is not possible I then stop and can then wait safely in the ASL at the junction for the next light change.More generally, I value being able to get past the fumes of queues of idling vehicles to gain the ASL rather than sit in them, and also not ending up in the situation where I feel i am slowing the queue down if I’ve stopped in it and cannot keep up with it as it moves off.
Finally, riding an electrically assisted cycle has made a massive difference in these scenarios – I have the oomph and prescence to more confidently take up a legitimate place as a road user in situations such as those described above, and yes, if its a short queue and I’m going to turn right at the junction I may well now decide not to get into the complication of using the feeder lane and ASL, but join the queue and move off with it using the bike’s power (it gets up to 16mph in step with the queue) in order to then place myself correctly on the junction for a right turn.
So in summary I value ASL’s and would not want to lose them, and it’s worth bearing in mind that e-bikes/the green agenda/costs etc are bringing less experienced/confident cycle users on to the roads now, and they more than experienced users, value protected space.
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