Parallel crossings

 

Mr Mustard saw the above tweets last week and realised that he too was one of those drivers and cyclists (he is both and also a pedestrian) who hadn't, perhaps, kept up with the legal meaning of these new style crossings despite regularly buying the latest Highway Code when he is alerted to a new edition. It sort of didn't matter as whether on two wheels or four Mr Mustard is attentive at such a junction and gives way all the time to others rather than have a scrape and be filling in insurance claim forms.

Mr Mustard didn't think that cyclists had priority because of one simple fact, the give way line on the cycle track. Mr Mustard decided to see what the law says and this is to be found on pages 476/7 of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016. This is available free on line or like Mr Mustard you can lash out £65 for a hard copy. Here are the relevant drawings

 

Just for completeness the square markings each side of the cycle crossing are diagram 1055.3 

These Elephants' Footprints, as they are known, merely delineate the lane, they don't have a give way meaning.

The zig zag lines come with complicated rules but luckily the Highway Code contains a simple interpretation:

 

The crossing Mr Mustard is most familiar with on his bicycle is the one in Montagu Road in Edmonton which looks like this:

He has found that as he cautiously approaches it is never long before a vehicle stops and lets him go for which they always get a friendly wave (Mr Mustard doesn't want to start a debate as to whether or not you should thank a driver for following the law but when he isn't chewing the ear off councils about unfair PCNs Mr Mustard is quite a friendly soul so he opts to wave as he thinks it makes the world a better place).

Mr Mustard's conclusion for the crossing in Hackney is that all people approaching should look, slow down, be prepared to give way and then cross when it is safe to do so. 

Avoid argument, insurance company paperwork, increased insurance premiums, broken bones or hospital food.

The end.