We’ve been approached a few times now by people asking about the legal position on mobility scooters in bike lanes.
It seems very strange that it would even be in question when you consider how many trikes and adaptive bikes there are around but it is in fact illegal for mobility scooters to use cycle lanes.
However, it’s not as bad as it sounds.
This is what the government says on GOV.UK:
“Cycle lanes and cycle tracks
Cycle lanes are different from cycle tracks.
Cycle lanes are painted on the road and run alongside where usual road traffic (like cars) go. You cannot drive a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair in cycle lanes.
Cycle tracks are separated from the road by barriers or distance. Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs in class 2 and 3 can be driven on cycle tracks.”
So the cycle lanes which are painted onto the road and which offer no real protection to anybody are NOT open to mobility scooters but any segregated cycle tracks ARE.
That makes more sense doesn’t it?
Read the full version of the government’s guidance HERE.