Plans have been underway to revise the Highway Code for some time now and it appears that the CTC have been able to coordinate an amendment that prevents cyclists having to use cycle routes, advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings.

The proposed wording now says that use is not ‘compulsory’ but may ‘make your journey safer’ and that you should use ‘cycle routes, advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings unless at the time it is unsafe to do so’.

It’s still a bit ambiguous to me though. I mean, as George Riches infers in his example of an accident claim, how would you necessarily prove it was unsafe at the time?

I’d prefer something that said:

cycle routes, advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings are provided with little thought to their real world application and in many instances are downright dangerous. Use at your own risk.

But that’s not going to happen is it?

(My thanks to the Sussex Muddy@rse MTB Club for highlighting this issue).

About the author

Matt is one of the founding Molefathers of the Muddymoles, and is the designer and main administrator of the website.

Having ridden a 2007 Orange Five for many years then a 2016 YT Industries Jeffsy 29er, he now rocks a Bird Aether 9 and a Pace RC-627.

An early On-One Inbred still lurks in the back of the stable as a reminder of how things have moved on. You can even find him on road bikes - currently a 2019 Cannondale Topstone 105 SE, a much-used 2011 Specialized Secteur and very niche belt drive Trek District 1.

If you've ever wondered how we got into mountain biking and how the MuddyMoles started, well wonder no more.