November 24, 2024 13:58 PM

Traversing The Confusing Web Of London's Bike Lanes

Cyclists in London have as much rights as car drivers and motorcycle drivers and bound by law, the government expects cyclists to abide by law and proper cycling lanes. The main issue for most London bike commuters -- and travelers in backpacks following the path of least financial resistance -- is the path of London's bike lanes could be deeply confusing and frustrating. A couple of maps and a few suggestions from local Britons who might have figured out the bike lane mystery of the European country may help prevent getting lost in London's bike web.

According to The Daily Mail UK, the official map created by the London Cycle Network -- in conjunction with Route Plan Roll -- highlights all the official bike lanes similarly like "Tube lines" or London's subways. The news website had embedded the map on its post. The map is helpful as it shows interconnecting lanes and conjunctions all over the UK that would be useful for commuters and travelers.

The Daily Mail UK noted the London Cycling Campaign finding the map "limited in use" given the "network of cycle routes develop." According to LCC Infrastructure Campaigner Simon Munk, the ever-changing networks and "quality of network links and nodes" would never be indicated in the map or updated in real time.

The Telegraph writes that Sustrans, a National Cycling Charity, finds the map useful because "it shows the whole of London," allowing one to "get this overview of which places link up. Nicholas Sanderson of Sustrans said people traveling distances could see the way routes link up and could be useful in creating a "decent cycle route" for commuting.

Main map designer and developer Route Plan Roll's Dermot Hanney said he designed the maps because smartphones -- though useful -- only show "how much the main roads jump out at you." He added that the "traditional roads are not the best routes for people to cycle on" and his map highlights the cycle routes, having them stand out against main roads for the convenience of cyclists.

The Telegraph cites the Transport for London -- the city's traffic and roads authority -- as having a map and journey planner that describes routes that contains "descriptions on the sorts of roads, traffic conditions and average speed" of the roads themselves. A downloadable version is available on their website.

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London Travel
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