Cycle lanes: their effect on driver passing distances in urban areas

The current literature in the field of cycle lanes has often shown contradictory evidence as to the benefits and risks of cycle lanes and previous work has specifically shown that on higher speed roads, drivers may pass closer to a cyclist when a cycle lane is present.

Utilising an instrumented bicycle, the researchers collected information as to the passing distance demonstrated by drivers when overtaking a cyclist within the urban (30 mph/40 mph) environment.

The presented analysis shows that when a driver encounters a cyclist mid-block (i.e. not at a junction), there are more significant variables than the presence of a cycle lane that determines the overtaking distance.