Cycle lane separation: choosing posts, kerbs and route markers

What does a cycle route need at the point where it meets the road? Sometimes the answer is a visible post. In other locations, a raised feature helps define the edge of a lane. Where the route changes direction or joins a shared path, clear signs may be the priority.

Those are different jobs, and choosing the right product starts with understanding the route itself.

For schemes in England, the Department for Transport’s Cycle Infrastructure Design (LTN 1/20) describes light segregation as intermittent physical features placed along the inside edge of a mandatory cycle lane. Its examples include traffic wands and raised features. Active Travel England also distinguishes cycle lanes from fully kerbed cycle tracks and stresses that the position of separation features must be considered carefully so they do not create hazards. Read the guidance on cycle lanes and tracks.

A cycle wand can make the edge of a cycle lane easier to see without forming a continuous kerb. The TMP Cycle Wand is designed for urban locations and has a reflective sleeve. Its fixing options include a narrow aluminium anchor, and the post is designed to spin out and be replaced when needed.

That makes it an option to consider where a scheme calls for intermittent separation and straightforward post replacement. The location, spacing and lane layout still need to be assessed as part of the overall design.

The black TMP City Post is a flexible polyurethane separator post with reflective sheeting visible from all sides. It can be installed using an anchor cup or a surface mounting option.

Posts can help make a boundary more apparent to people using the street. They should not be confused with a continuous barrier or assumed to prevent a vehicle from entering a cycle lane. The right treatment depends on the traffic conditions and the level of separation the route requires.

Where a scheme calls for a raised edge, the FG-Kerb with a single FG300 post combines a bolt-down kerb unit with a visible post. TMP lists drainage channels in the kerb section and options for curved layouts.

Compared with individual wands or posts, FG-Kerb gives the cycle lane a more defined edge. Its position still needs to work around junctions, crossings and access points, while allowing for drainage and routine maintenance.

At junctions and other decision points, a sign-faced bollard can help people follow a cycle route or recognise a shared path.

The Pictor Minor bollard is designed for shared cycle and pedestrian routes. Its 150 mm sign face can display cycle route and shared path signs, making it a useful marker where people need to understand how the route continues.

Our new flagship cycle lane marker, the Mini Metro bollard, offers more sign options in a compact design. It can display multiple 150 mm sign faces across the front and reverse, with options for cycle routes, shared paths and directions. That gives scheme designers flexibility to make the route clear without adding several separate posts.

For signs installed on the highway, the chosen faces and their placement need to meet the applicable requirements. Active Travel England’s signage guidance also recommends keeping signs clear and street clutter to a minimum.

Posts, kerb units and marker bollards can work alongside the wider design of a cycle route, but they are not interchangeable. First establish what the location needs: separation from motor traffic, a more visible lane edge, or signs that make the route easier to follow. Then assess the layout, the relevant design guidance and how the scheme will be maintained.

TMP can help you explore the product options for your next active travel scheme. Get in touch to discuss the location and what you need the route to achieve.