Motorists caught crossing the white lines of mandatory cycle lanes and tracks will be fined from Monday, Transport for London has announced.
Under expanded enforcement powers, TfL and all London boroughs can begin issuing fines from 27 June using existing CCTV cameras, the operator said in a statement.
The changes are an attempt to improve safety for cyclists. More than half of people in the capital choose not to cycle because of concerns over road traffic, the statement said.
The new enforcement power is part of TfL’s Vision Zero commitment to eliminating death and serious injury on London’s roads.
Most cars are already banned from driving within or crossing the white lines of cycle lanes, a prohibition previously enforced only by the police. Only rental e-scooters in a trial area and pedal cycles can legally use cycle lanes in London.
“Protecting designated space for cyclists is essential in keeping them safe and improving confidence to cycle. We will start enforcing in key locations in London to deter drivers contravening the road rules,” said Siwan Hayward, TfL’s director of compliance, policing, operations and security.
The safety of cyclists on Britain’s roads is an enduring issue. The number of fatalities increased by 40% in 2020, official statistics showed. The death of lawyer Shatha Ali, 39, who was killed in a collision involving a lorry near Holborn station, cast renewed focus on the safety of cyclists, especially on London’s roads.
Earlier this year, the Highway Code was updated, giving better protection to cyclists and pedestrians. The new guidance advised cyclists to ride in the centre of lanes on quieter roads, in slower-moving traffic and when approaching junctions, to make themselves as visible as possible.
The guidance also stipulated that drivers would be expected to watch out for cyclists, while cyclists should be aware of pedestrians.
The expanded powers for fining motorists, introduced by the government, arrive at the same time as “wider national changes giving local authorities in England outside London the powers to enforce moving traffic contraventions”, the statement added.
“Enabling more Londoners to walk and cycle continues to be at the heart of the mayor’s vision to create a healthier, cleaner and more sustainable London for everyone,” said Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner. “These new powers will play an important role in that”.
There has been a huge increase in the proportion of journeys made by bike since the start of the pandemic, according to TfL data. In 2020 the government unveiled a £250m investment in UK cycle lanes to encourage commuters to ride to work instead of using public transport.
