Road marking for pedestrian crossings and cycle lanes covers two types of marking you meet every day in towns and built-up areas, and they have their own rules for how you should act. You recognise the pedestrian crossing by the wide white stripes across the road, while the cycle lane is a separate lane marked with a broken line and a bicycle symbol. Once you understand the difference, you also know when you must give way – knowledge you need both in traffic and on the class B theory test.

Overview of a pedestrian crossing with white stripes and a cycle lane with a broken line, and where you must give way

Table of contents

  1. How to recognise the pedestrian crossing
  2. How to recognise the cycle lane
  3. Giving way at a pedestrian crossing
  4. Rules for the cycle lane
  5. Common mistakes and misunderstandings

How to recognise the pedestrian crossing

A pedestrian crossing is marked with wide, white stripes laid across the carriageway. The stripes are clear and easy to see from a distance, and they mark where pedestrians should cross the road. Many crossings are also announced with their own sign and sometimes with traffic lights.

As you approach a pedestrian crossing, you should reduce speed and be prepared for someone to cross. The stripes mean that pedestrians have a clearly defined place in the traffic picture right here, and that you as the driver must adapt to them. This applies in particular in urban areas, near schools and at bus stops. The rules for the right of way itself are explained in more detail in the article on pedestrian crossings and right of way .

How to recognise the cycle lane

A cycle lane is a separate lane for cyclists, and it is part of the carriageway itself. It differs from a pedestrian crossing in that it runs along the road, not across it. The cycle lane is marked with a long broken line and a bicycle symbol painted in the lane.

A cycle lane is not the same as a separate cycle path, which is physically divided from car traffic. The cycle lane lies in the carriageway, and you must take account of the cyclists who are in it. You can read more about how to relate to cyclists in the articles on overtaking cyclists and cycle box and stop line .

FeaturePedestrian crossingCycle lane
DirectionAcross the roadAlong the road
MarkingWide white stripesBroken line + bicycle symbol
Used byPedestriansCyclists
Part of the carriagewayNo, a crossing pointYes, a separate lane

Giving way at a pedestrian crossing

At a pedestrian crossing without lights, you as the driver must give way to pedestrians who are stepping onto the crossing or have started to cross. That means you must reduce speed in good time and be ready to stop completely.

  • Approach the crossing at a moderate speed and watch the pavement on both sides.
  • Stop for pedestrians who have stepped onto the crossing or are clearly waiting to cross.
  • Do not wave people across if you do not have a full overview – it can mislead them.
  • Be extra alert in the dark, in rain and on winter surfaces where the stripes can be hard to see.

At a crossing with traffic lights, you follow the light signal. Remember that even a green light can require you to wait for pedestrians who have already started to cross – more on this in giving way at a green light . For a general look at how right of way works in different situations, read give way to the right with examples .

Rules for the cycle lane

A cycle lane is reserved for cyclists. As a driver you should, as a general rule, not drive or park in a cycle lane. You may still have to cross it – for example when turning right into a side road or a driveway.

  1. Watch for cyclists in the cycle lane before you turn or cross.
  2. You must give way to a cyclist in the cycle lane when you cross the lane to turn.
  3. Do not move the car into the cycle lane to wait or to park.
  4. Keep a good distance and let the cyclist go ahead if you are heading the same way.

A related topic is how to avoid opening the car door right in front of a cyclist. You can read about that in the door zone and the Dutch reach . A complete overview of all road marking is found in the article on road marking .

Common mistakes and misunderstandings

A common misunderstanding is to believe that pedestrians always have to give way to the car. At a pedestrian crossing it is the opposite: you must let the pedestrian go first. Another mistake is to confuse the cycle lane with an edge line or shoulder and drive or stop in it. The cycle lane is a separate lane, not a part you can freely use.

Many people also mix up this marking with related lines. It helps to see the pedestrian crossing and the cycle lane in context with the rest of the marking, such as arrows in the carriageway and lane choice and no-overtaking line and warning line .

Want to test how well you know the markings? Take a free theory test and keep practising in the Eteo app, so you are well prepared for the class B theory test.