What is cycle lane design?
Cycle lane design is the technical and regulatory process of planning, specifying and delivering dedicated cycling infrastructure within or alongside road networks and development sites. It covers everything from the width and surface material of a cycle path to its interaction with pedestrian crossings, junctions, signage and drainage.
Effective cycle lane design goes beyond drawing a line on a road. It requires a thorough understanding of highway standards, user behaviour and the specific constraints of your site. We bring all of this together to create cycle infrastructure that is safe, compliant and genuinely usable.
Our approach is designed to help you meet planning requirements and support your organisation's sustainability commitments.
Our cycle lane design services
We offer a comprehensive range of cycle lane and active travel design services, tailored to the needs of your project and the expectations of the relevant local planning and highways authority.
Active travel feasibility and route assessment
We carry out thorough feasibility assessments to identify the most appropriate cycle routes for your site, analysing the surrounding road network, existing movements, land constraints and local transport policy requirements.
Cycle lane layout and geometric design
Our designers produce detailed cycle lane layouts compliant with Local Transport Note 1/20 (LTN 1/20) and other national standards, covering lane width, surface specification, road markings, signage and kerb treatments.
Junction treatment and crossing design
We design appropriate crossing and junction treatments, including tiger crossings, toucan crossings and protected junctions, informed by traffic data and safety audits to minimise conflict points between cyclists and motorised vehicles.
Active travel statements and transport assessments
Our team prepares active travel statements and transport assessments to a standard acceptable to the local planning and highways authority, ensuring your development's cycling and walking strategy aligns with the wider planning application.
Stakeholder and highways authority engagement
We represent clients in pre-application discussions, public consultations and technical meetings with highways officers, presenting proposals clearly and addressing concerns proactively to keep your scheme moving forward.
“Cycle infrastructure that works is cycle infrastructure that has been designed properly from the outset. We take the time to understand the specifics of each site and each client's objectives, so the solutions we produce are both technically sound and deliverable in practice.”
Standards and guidance our team works to
All cycle lane design work carried out by our team is informed by the relevant national and local standards and guidance, including:
- Local Transport Note 1/20 (LTN 1/20) – the primary design guidance for cycle infrastructure in England
- Manual for Streets and Manual for Streets 2
- Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB)
- Active Travel England design guidance and assessment frameworks
- Relevant local transport and cycling strategies produced by the local planning authority or combined authority
Our familiarity with these standards means we can advise you from the earliest stages of a project on what will and will not be acceptable to the authority, reducing the risk of abortive work and rework later in the process.
Why should I choose BTG Eddisons for cycle lane design?
Our transport planning team operates as part of BTG Eddisons' wider multi-disciplinary practice, giving you a more joined-up approach across planning, building consultancy, architectural design and development advice. Working with us gives you access to:
- 180 years of experience in the UK property and built environment sector
- More than 450 professionals across 35 offices nationwide
- Experience working with developers, landowners, local authorities and businesses of all sizes
- A proven track record of delivering active travel and transport planning solutions across England and Wales
- A five-star rated service backed by positive client reviews
Speak to our cycle lane design specialists
Whether you are at the early feasibility stage or need support preparing detailed designs for a planning application, our transport planning team is ready to assist. Just complete the form below to start the process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cycle Lane Design
What is LTN 1/20 and why does it matter for cycle lane design?
Local Transport Note 1/20 is the Government's primary design guidance for cycling infrastructure in England. Published in 2020, it sets out the standards that local authorities and Active Travel England use when assessing the quality of cycle infrastructure.
Compliance with LTN 1/20 is increasingly expected as a condition of planning approval and funding eligibility, making it essential that your cycle lane design is developed with this guidance in mind from the outset.
