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Woman commuting in a cycling lane.

Do Bike Lanes Reduce Cycling Accidents?

Bike lanes can reduce the chance of cycling accidents by creating a dedicated lane for cyclists. However, even when a cyclist avoids other road users and sticks to riding in separated bike lanes, cycling accidents can still occur. Discover more about bike lanes and cycling accidents with the specialist cycling legal team at Cycle SOS.

Are Cycle lanes effective?

Cycle lanes can be an effective way to reduce the number of cycling accidents. According to research from Direct Line Cycling Insurance, the number of cyclists involved in road traffic accidents in Great Britain fell by 10% between 2019 and 2021, as local councils invested in cycling infrastructure such as bike lanes. Over the same time frame, the number of accidents occurring in bike lanes also fell by 14%.

However, incidents and crashes can still occur in bike lanes, especially if other motor vehicles wrongly use the bike lane or if there is an obstruction.

What bicycle accidents can happen in a cycle lane?

Most cycle lanes are known as ‘on-carriageway’ cycle lanes. These are defined by a broken white line, a solid white line or bollards. Off-carriage way cycle lanes are separate from the carriageway, defined by a solid white line or a kerb, and may be shared use with pedestrians.

Take a look at the three most common cycling accidents that can occur in a bike lane.

Cycle lane accidents caused by defects

All bicycle infrastructure, including bike lanes, are subject to S41 of the Highways Act, and undergo safety inspections every six months. If you’re involved in a road traffic accident in a bike lane due to a defect, then the Highway Authority may be potentially liable; unless they are able to prove a reasonable inspection regime, and that the defect was not there upon the last inspection.   

Cycle lane accidents caused by poor design

The design of a cycle lane can also cause bicycle accidents. Cycling injuries can occur due to a lack of reflective material on bollards, badly placed street signs and other poor design. The Highway Authority receive guidance on cycle lane design and planning but there is no statutory authority, making it a more difficult process to make a personal injury claim as a result of poor cycle lane design.

Cycle lane accidents caused by other vehicles

Motor vehicles are prohibited by The Highway Code from entering or parking in an on-carriage way cycle lane. Drivers are also encouraged not to park or drive in a cycle lane defined by a broken white line unless unavoidable. However, bike accidents often occur in cycle lanes due to vehicles using them to overtake or park, causing cyclists to swerve into the path of other road users.

When using cycling lanes, remember to stay aware of your surroundings and cycling route. Look out for the swinging doors of parked cars, obstacles in the cycle lane, poor design and defects. Visit Think! For more information on bicycle safety advice.

Make a Bike Lane Accident Claim with Cycle SOS

At Cycle SOS, we have over 30 years of experience winning bike accident claims for cycling injuries. We specialise in bike lane accident claims and can help you to receive compensation for your cycling injury, as well as recover your loss of earnings, medical costs, bike repair or replacement.

For more information about our services or to start your claim, call 0808 100 9995 and speak to one of our specialist solicitors. We’re here to help. You can email us or schedule a callback.

Written By:

Emily Pheysey

Litigation Executive

Emily has over 7 years of experience in the legal sector, handling road traffic accident claims to recover compensation and support her clients. Her focus is to ensure all clients feel comfortable and at ease with the claims process so that they can focus on their recovery.

Emily considers rapport to be an essential part of the role and strives to always provide excellent client care.

Away from work, Emily enjoys spending time with her family and friends and travelling as much possible.

Diane Holderness

Litigation Executive

Diane is a Ministry of Justice (TOJ) Team Leader within our Cycle Department. She has 11 years’ experience managing road traffic accident claims, and 6 years’ experience managing MOJ claims.

Diane enjoys a challenge and always strives for the very best results for her customers; something that is clear in the way her team continually adapts its strategies in order to secure the most desired outcome. Diane has worked her way through the legal ranks here, and is proud to now have a strong, specialist team that is committed to customer satisfaction.

Diane believes that happy clients make a happy working environment, and it is this that ensures a productive and efficient workforce.

Nina Haddock

Chartered Legal Executive

Nina has over 30 years’ experience in the legal sector. She specialises in recovering compensation for injury claimants as a result of road traffic accidents. Her focus for each and every claim is to help her clients secure the funding that they need to pay for ongoing treatment and support.

Nina became a CILEX Fellow in 2006 and now helps her clients and their families at a time when they have been through a traumatic experience, and everything they hold dear to them appears to be changing.

One case Nina is particularly proud of is supporting a client who had successfully sought asylum in the UK, following a road traffic accident. The claim was successfully pursued through the MIB and the client was left with significant injuries. Her client was able to use the compensation to aid family members with their applications to seek asylum in the UK.

Julian Fox

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Julian qualified as a Solicitor in 2005 and has worked in all areas of personal injury since 2000. Julian has a well-rounded understanding of personal injury law, having represented both claimants and defendants.

Julian always aims for maximum damages to meet his clients’ needs for injury and rehabilitation expenses, and can often secure interim payments to help meet clients’ financial needs. Julian is highly proactive in ensuring cases are progressed, ensuring a timely conclusion.

When not at the office, Julian is a keen cyclist, both on roads and virtually -he will often do an hour of ‘Zwifting’ in the mornings before starting work.

Richard Atherton

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Richard has 12 years of legal experience and qualified as a Solicitor in February 2014. He has been a Team Manager with us since 2019. Throughout his career, Richard has specialised in personal injury, handling an array of Road Traffic Accident cases, in addition to employer and public liability.

Richard prides himself on his very strong strategic and planning skills, which come into their own in complex injury cases where more technical arguments are involved. On every case, he is committed to ensuring that his clients receive full compensation for their injuries.

Away from work, Richard enjoys sport; he is a season ticket holder at St Helens Rugby Club and a Liverpool FC fan. Not only a spectator, Richard also likes going to play golf as often as he can.

Dave Gardner

Litigation Executive

Dave has over 20 years of experience in the legal sector. His specialism is personal injury and he has dealt with hundreds of cycling injury claims during his career. Excellent client care and communication is paramount to Dave. He prides himself on being accessible and available, attending court hearings where damages are in dispute to ensure the best outcome for his clients. One case Dave is particularly proud of is when he supported an elderly client who suffered serious injuries following a road traffic incident. The police had not taken any action against the defendant, so Dave had to be proactive and act within a 24-hour window. The case proceeded and the client was in receipt of £30,000 in damages, which he would not have been entitled to had the client not approached Dave. He is also an avid supporter of Glasgow Rangers and travelled abroad on many occasions to see them play in European competitions.

Gerard Horton

Partner

Gerard is a Senior Solicitor at Cycle SOS. In his 13 years of experience, Gerard has built a national reputation in the catastrophic injury sector, dealing with high value and complex cases. Alongside his legal role, Gerard supports several charities including Headway Central Lancashire, Northwest Regional Spinal Injuries Centre and spinal injury charity, Back Up.

Julia Eyton

Partner

Julia brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Cycle SOS team.

Specialising in representing those who have had life changing injuries, Julia handles some of the most serious and complex personal injury cases both within Cycle SOS and nationally.

She often works on high value claims and is skilled in winning complex liability cases.

NADIA KERR

Partner

Nadia has over 30 years of legal expertise and has represented hundreds of vulnerable road users. With a focus on ensuring timely rehabilitation, speedy repair or replacement of bikes and kit, and securing fair compensation, Nadia is committed to advocating for justice and client rights. Alongside her legal career, Nadia actively participates in national campaigns to benefit vulnerable road users and acts as a Trustee/Director for the national cycling charity, Cycling UK. Nadia was named in Cycling UK’s ‘100 women’ and was a founding member, now running a women’s cycling group, TeamGlow in South Manchester. Among her many achievements, Nadia takes pride in her spot on BBC Breakfast, where she provided expert commentary on long term government funding for pothole repairs.

Caroline Morris

DIRECTOR OF SERIOUS INJURY

Caroline has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years, recovering more than £56 million in damages during that time, to help clients rebuild their lives after injury.

Caroline is committed to achieving rehabilitation options early, meaning her clients benefits from the best care and treatment at the earliest stage possible.