Royal Borough Cycleways

There are around 200 km (125 miles) of signposted cycle routes in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (excluding public rights of way).  These are a mix of advisory cycle routes (quiet roads), on-carriageway cycle lanes, shared use footway / cycleway facilities, and off-carriageway cycle paths. 

Local Cycle Network: Concentrated in the Borough's main towns of Maidenhead and Windsor, this network of routes connects residential areas with shopping and employment centres, rail stations, schools, leisure facilities and other key destinations.  There are also several inter-urban routes within the Borough, which cater for longer trips.  Please refer to the Borough's leaflet 'Cycling in Windsor and Maidenhead' for route details.

National Cycle Network: Developed by Sustrans in partnership with local authorities and other stakeholders, the National Cycle Network connects towns and cities across the country.  NCN Route 4 (London to Reading) passes through the Royal Borough from Egham in the east, via Windsor Great Park, Eton, Dorney Common, Bray, and Maidenhead, before heading off towards Henley in the west.  There are also links to Slough and Heathrow (NCN Route 61) and to Cookham (NCN Route 50).  Sustrans has an on-line mapping facility which provides details of all these links.  They have also produced a guide for the Thames Valley Cycle Routes, which features NCN routes between Oxford and London. 

Public Rights of Way: Cyclists are permitted to use certain parts of the public rights of way network, including bridleways, byways and restricted byways.  These facilities may be shared with other user groups, including walkers, equestrians and off-road vehicles.  They tend to be unsurfaced and are therefore considered most appropriate for leisure rides using bikes designed for off-road use.

Toucan Crossings: These are special signal-controlled crossings that are similar to pelican crossings.  They have a red man and a green man signal to show when it is safe to cross, but they also have an extra green cycle signal.  Cyclists may ride across a toucan crossing, but should take care not to obstruct pedestrians.  When a number of pedestrians are using a toucan crossing, it may be better for cyclists to dismount and walk across.

Road Markings and Signs for Cyclists: Below are some of the key road signs relating to cycling.  As a cyclist, you may find it helpful to obtiain a copy of the Highway Code, which includes advice and information for cyclists and all road users.

Designated cycle lanes are denoted by both signs and road markings and may be either mandatory or advisory.  Mandatory cycle lanes are bounded by a solid white line and are covered by a Traffic Regulation Order, prohibiting their use by motor vehicles (except for emergency or statutory purposes).  Advisory cycle lanes are bounded by a broken white line and vehicles are permitted to encroach into advisory lanes or turn across them.  

Some junctions have advanced stop lines to allow cyclists to bypass queuing traffic and position themselves more visibly at the head of the queue.  An advanced stop line consists of a marked box where cyclists can wait in front of other traffic.  They usually have a feeder lane to improve access for cyclists.  Motorists must wait behind the first white line reached and must not enter the marked area until they receive a green signal.

•   Cycle Leaflet Part 1 (pdf 433KB)

•   Cycle Leaflet Part 2 (pdf 831KB)