TFL’s press release shows us what is wrong with UK transport culture

Today TFL released a press release regarding enforcement of ASL/bike boxes to help improve cycle safety in the capital.

Basically they are working with the police in giving motorists, motorcyclists and cyclists advice about how the bike boxes should be used. In their own press release TFL give a history of the ASL in the UK, it goes like this

ASLs were first introduced into the UK in Oxford in 1986, primarily as a measure to increase safety for cyclists by enabling them to move in front of traffic queues at signal controlled junctions. The regulations and layouts permitted for ASLs and lead-in lanes are contained within the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) 2002. This was introduced in December 2002 and came into effect on 31 January 2003 for new schemes

So ASLs have been part of UK infrastructure since 1986 and have had a law regarding their whole use in place for 10 years. But only now are road users being taught about them. The problem we have is that you pass a test to drive and you can go the rest of your driving life without having to pick up a copy of the highway code or reading about new implementations to the road network.

As new signs, laws, road markings etc.. are introduced into the road network, current road users are only made aware of such additions if they look into them or if they are brought up on them. How can we fix this?

Test people!

As road users, I speak here as a cyclist and as a motorists, we should be regularly tested at intervals on road theory, things change and I’m sure that a 60-year-old driver who has been driving for more than 40 years is not aware of many of the additional changes made to the road network in that time frame. Even if it was a 10 year interval then all motorists would have been made aware of bike boxes and we wouldn’t need to educate them this time round but instead fine them for not following the rules that are set to them!

Enforce rules!

10 years! It’s been 10 years since ASL and their function where backed by law and in that time frame it has been extremely rare for a motorist to be pulled up for the offence of not stopping correctly at a red light and encroaching in the bike box. That’s a shocking time frame and this should have been something that was addressed from day 1. Not just because it’s breaking the law but because those boxes were put in for safety reasons and by no one following by the rules it nullifies the safety aspects! WHAT IS THE POINT?

TFL have included some safety tips for both motorists and cyclists regarding ASLs

Motorists

  • Do not enter the Advanced Stop Line (ASL) box when the light is red – this space is reserved for the safety of cyclists;
  • Crossing the first or second ASL lines when the light is red makes you liable for a £60 fixed penalty, three points on your licence, and endangers vulnerable road users;
  • If the traffic signal changes from green to amber and you cannot safely stop before the first stop line, you may cross the line but must stop before the second stop line (Highway Code rule 178).

All good but adding a few other things like

  • Be aware of cyclists filtering towards the ASL whilst you are waiting in stationery traffic, give them time and space to join into the traffic flow were required
  • If you are stopped in the ASL, please be aware of cyclists who attempt to use it and allow them to pull away safely.

Now for the cycling one.

Cyclists

  • Do not cross the second stop line while the traffic signal is red.  Contravening a traffic signal is against the law, and could result in a £30 fine;
  • For more information on ASL safety tips visit: www.tfl.gov.uk/safetytips
  • The MPS have explained some of the myths around ASLs on its new ASL dedicated webpage: www.tinyurl.com/ASLadvice.

The information on the TFL site is actually quite good for TFL, although some of the images and spaces defined as safe overtaking are a little worrying.
The information on the Met site is of course detailed and well thought out, the myth busting info is pretty good as well.

However I would add one final point for cyclists

  • The ASL is not a target, if you can’t get to it safely, do not attempt to reach it. Take a strong position where you are and keep safe.

Interestingly all the documentation does not state how cyclists might enter the ASL, at present cyclists can only legally enter an ASL via a feeder cycle lane or at a broken point of the ASL. Both of these are usually to the left of the cycle lane, which is probably one of the most dangerous places to filter. It’s much safer to enter from the right (usually blocked by motorcyclists) or by the middle on a two lane road.

To sum this all up. 10 years too late, nothing has changed there then.


4 thoughts on “TFL’s press release shows us what is wrong with UK transport culture

  1. Well said with good points. A friend of mine only passed his driving test five years ago and he was asking me what the ASL is for. There should be an advertising campaign or something similar to make people aware.

  2. I personally believe that there should be the following for all vehicle drivers:

    * Re-testing every 5 years for all drivers [both practical & written road craft testing] with a full medical.

    * Re-testing every 2 years for professional drivers with full medical.

    * Annual eye tests for all drivers.

    All this can be enforced through raising insurance premiums to double what they would normally be and then offer the reduction to normal rates for drivers who provide the required certification.

    They should get rid of all ASL’s as they are an old, outdated design that introduces more conflicts than they resolve.

    You can see this with that it puts cyclists back in front of fast moving traffic, it filters cyclists up the inside of vehicles and cyclists tend to sit single file in the gutter waiting for lights to change.

    Unless the UK gets with the 21st century with infrastructure design, it will just waste vast swathes of money like it did with deadly ‘pollution capturing’ blue paint.

  3. since the announcement i have seen MORE vehicles encroach the ASL, and ive even seen more police ignore it. such a let down. number of cyclists to stop at red lights was normal on friday, but significantly less today (monday)….. could it be that cyclists are more clued up with current rules, regulations and laws because they are weaker (eg not projected by a metal box)? i havent seen any mainstrem advertising (on side of busses, flyers, tv adverts) about keeping vehicles behind the “bike box”…. so how are they meant to know about it? its a ten year old law that only now is going to be (apparently) enforced. TFL needs to really push their advertising out there because at the moment the only people who i know who know about it are the odd professional driving company and cyclists (who knew about it already)

  4. Only today I recorded a Police Van pull up to Red lights and stop inside the bike section, I called the local police referring to a vehicle (not a police van) and they said they only did something if a unit saw it, they were not interested in video evidence.

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