Everything you need to know about lane dividers!

If you are a bike or cycle rider, you may know the lane separators. If you do not know, this article will explain these traffic management tools and their role.

A lane divider, also called a lane defender, is a traffic-calming tool that the administration of an area installs on the road to establish a boundary between cycle traffic and motor vehicle traffic.

However, it is a multi-purpose tool that you can use to create separate lanes for buses, pedestrians, and emergency vehicles. You can also install it around an on-street parking area.

Keep reading the article to learn everything you must know about lane dividers.

Black and red lane dividers made of recycled rubber with white reflective tapes to make it more visible for road users

A black and a red lane dividers with white reflective tapes and glass reflective road studs.

Discover here our full range of Lane Dividers!

What is a lane separator?

Lane separators are traffic-control and traffic management tools used globally to divide a road into two pathways – one for bikes, cycles, pedestrians, bicycle riders, bikers, bicyclists, or buses and the other for vehicle traffic.

Names like lane segregation, lane separators, cycle lane defenders, etc., know them. Whatever the product name used, this tool is utilised for the same goal, which is to create physically separated lanes.

You can use lane segregation to create separate lanes, such as:

Cycle path (also called bike lanes, protected bike routes, protected bike lanes, cycling and bicycling pathways, Bike paths, bicycle lanes, cycle tracks, cycling tracks, bicycle routes);

Side path;

Bicycle parking;

Travel lane;

Cycling facilities;

Separated motor-vehicle lanes;

Pedestrian track.

Like other parts of the world, the transportation department also uses these lane segregations in the United Kingdom to regulate and govern bicycle and city transportation.

If you want to install them in the UK, you should first learn their standard regulations and rules and then purchase a product that meets them.

Though lane segregation is advantageous in innumerable ways, you can use their alternatives like bollards, poles, etc., if you want to. These alternatives can be beneficial in their own way, but lane segregation is often considered a better choice.

They are manufactured in different forms so that people get different options. When purchasing, you will find them in different lengths, heights, shapes, designs, materials, and colours. You can find a suitable product by doing a little research.

Red rubber lane dividers with road studs embedded and white reflective films pasted

Learn more: What is a lane separator?

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What is the role of cycle lane dividers?

You can use lane separators to protect bicycle traffic from motor traffic, car traffic, vehicle traffic, and other traffic. Administrations use this traffic-calming tool for multiple reasons.

Reduce the number of fatalities

When a cyclist, bicyclist, street bike rider, or new bike rider drives among large vehicular drivers and motorists, he has to change his lane or speed every now and then according to the large vehicle in front of him. He also has a high chance of colliding with them.

But when you create a separate bicycle lane, cycle track, bike path, bike route, bicycle infrastructure, bikeway, or cycle lane for him using lane separators, he will have nearly no chance of colliding.

This way, your lane separators can save several lives every year.

Create bus-only lanes

Creating bus-only lanes helps in managing traffic in all neighbourhoods. When large motor vehicles line buses in separate lanes, cars get enough space to travel steadily.

Traffic lane separators on the road to set a lane for buses.

Create pedestrian mediums

Pedestrians who walk alongside roads may get hit by a motorised vehicle. But when you create a separate lane for pedestrians, the motorist stays out of the lane, and pedestrians stay safe.

Create cycle or bicycle lanes

The most common use of lane separators is making bike lanes and cycle paths for people riding a bike to work or anywhere. This allows walking and biking people to follow a bike map well and enjoy cycling culture more.

Cycle lane separators mounted on the road to separate different lanes.

Support active travel

Biking and walking improve health. Therefore, creating separate lanes for them is a great initiative to encourage this form of active travel.

Make roads bicycle-friendly

A bike-friendly road is where the chances of collisions and crashes between people on bikes and people in motor vehicles are low.

Black and white lane dividers to separate cycle lanes and motor lanes to reduce accidents

Learn more: What is the role of cycle lane dividers?

Feel free to check our articles below to learn more about this topic:

How do cycle lane dividers work?
Pros and cons of lane separator curb!

Different types of lane dividers

Lane separators are manufactured in a diverse variety, providing people with many options. The characteristics of lane segregation make them different from each other.

For instance, if a lane divider is made up of plastic, the other may be rubber or steel.

Similarly, if a lane divider for sidewalks, bicycle highways, roundabouts, and parked vehicles has markings, the other may have a plane surface.

Cycle lane separators come in many forms that differ based on colour, shape, and material.

Colour

Lane separators are generally made up of bright and prominent colours that help enhance their visibility for cyclists or for bicycling people. Black, red, yellow, green, and blue are common colours of lane segregation.

A black lane separator usually has markings or stripes of white, yellow or any other noticeable colour.

A black lane divider with yellow reflective films, a black lane divider with white reflective films, and a red lane divider with white reflective films.

Material

Lane separators are manufactured of many materials. However, rubber, plastic, steel, and concrete are common materials. Rubber and plastic are soft materials compared to the other two materials.

They also have the potential to absorb the impact of wheels more. You can remove and transport them easily.

On the other hand, concrete and steel lane separators are solid. They may damage the wheels of a cycle when they accidentally collide with them while passing on cycle infrastructure.

Concrete lane separators cannot be removed and reused like other forms. They may also cause more damage to the pavement compared to other forms.

Two red rubber lane dividers, white plastic lane dividers with guide posts, and concrete lane dividers.

Shape

Cycle lane separators come in many shapes, but the most common shapes of lane separators are ellipsoid or button-shape, rectangular, narrow long rod-like shapes, and some with guide posts. They can create continuous light segregation according to cycling infrastructure or roadway needs.

When selecting a lane separator for your roads, you should consider bicycle, pedestrian, and motorist traffic. Different products are suitable for different types of traffic.

You should select a product according to the road traffic where you want to install lane separators.

Black and white armadillo-shape lane dividers, a black and a red rectangular lane dividers, black button-shape lane dividers, and white lane separators with white guide posts.

Learn more: Different types of lane dividers.

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Advantages of lane dividers

Some people may use alternatives for lane separators to create segregated lines. They may be effective, but lane separators also have distinct pros and cons.

If you want to learn the role of lane dividers, read these benefits of lane dividers:

Lane separators create a physical boundary between different forms of traffic. For instance, they create a separate lane for buses and keep other vehicular traffic away. This makes it easy for buses to travel in a lane at a steady speed without worrying about going at the speed of cars.

One benefit is that they can also reduce roadside accidents and help save several lives yearly in different parts of the world.

They can make pedestrians, cycle riders, and bikers feel safe on roads.

Creating separate lanes for cyclists and bicyclists promotes cycling culture and encourages people to travel more often.

Two red rubber lane separators made of vulcanised rubber with white reflective films, one of which is embedded with road studs.

Take 5 minutes to learn about lane separator regulations!

Traffic control devices like lane separators that the Federal Highway Administration fits on roads to separate traffic lanes and help passing vehicles stay out of cycle lanes should be constructed according to the rules of the road or traffic laws.

You should obey these laws when installing or using lane separators around the work zone, side of the road, line of traffic, driving lane, roundabout, road lane, school zone, driveway, roadside, traffic lane, parking space, directional carpool lane, or cycle lane marking.

Here are the general regulatory measures about lane separators that you should remember.

Standard dimensions of rubber lane segregators

Rubber lane segregation should be of optimum size and used according to the size of the road. Generally, installing them on the white markings of the cycle lane is prohibited. Lane segregation should be normally placed inside the cycle lane.

3D drawing of a cycle lane divider with white reflective tapes showing specific dimensions.

Driving over lane separators

The main goal of using a lane separator is to keep bicycle and vehicular traffic separate on roadways, two-way roads, complete streets, driveways, and similar places. But if a heavy vehicle drives over lane separators, the purpose of using this road safety tool is destroyed.

Therefore, it is not allowed for cars, school buses, etc., to intentionally drive over lane separators.

However, many areas in the UK allow emergency vehicles like ambulances and police vehicles to drive over them when they have to reach a particular area quickly to save a life or protect someone.

A black car is driving over a black and yellow land separator with red and white guide posts.

Walking in a cycle lane

Most places in the UK allow pedestrians to walk in a cycle lane without hindering the path of cyclists. However, it is better to walk on a safer side that is free of cycle traffic as well as motor vehicle traffic.

White road marking to distinguish bicycle lanes from motor vehicle lanes for better traffic management

Learn more: Take 5 minutes to learn about lane separator regulations!

Purchasing guide of cycle lane separators

If you want to buy the right product for your roads, it is important first to learn which factors to look for in this product. Here are the common things people check in a lane separator before choosing it.

Material

As mentioned, lane separators are available in various materials. Each material has its own qualities and is suitable for a particular area. Check the usefulness of each material option that you have before selecting one.

Brands

There are numerous lane separator brands – some national and some international. You should check reputation and distinctiveness before choosing it all.

You can visit a brand’s website and see how responsive it is to potential clients’ messages. You should also check reviews of old customers.

Here is a list of the top brands of cycle lane separators. You should check their products and select the brand that offers lane separators that match your needs.

ORCA lane separator;

Rosehill narrow cycle lane defender;

Zebra cycle lane separator;

Sino Concept lane segregator;

Tuff curb lane separators.

Orca, Rosehill, Zebra, Sino Concept, and Tuff Curb lane dividers.

Dimensions

Different roads have different requirements regarding the size of lane separators. Generally, you should select a wider lane separator for a wider cycle lane and busy road. In contrast, you should select a small-sized lane segregator if the road or lane is small.

Design

Lane separators are produced in many shapes, designs, and styles. Each shape or design has its unique efficiency and usefulness. You should select a design that fits well in your settings.

Other features

Lane separators offer many other features you should observe before buying a product. Some allow users to insert posts, bollards, and traffic signs, while others allow users to place reflective glass eyes or paste reflective tapes.

Black and red lane dividers made of vulcanized rubber and pasted with white reflective films, and their installing accessories.

Learn more: Purchasing guide of cycle lane separators.

Feel free to check our articles below to learn more about this topic:

ORCA lane separator.
Rosehill narrow cycle lane defender.
Zebra cycle lane separator.
Tuff curb lane separator.
Sino Concept lane dividers.

How to install a lane divider?

The expert installation process of rubber lane separators is easy and does not take much time. You can install this product independently if you have the right equipment and a little knowledge of the process.

Here are the steps to install a rubber or plastic lane separator.

Step 1

First, gather the basic equipment, which includes chalk, drill, log anchors, bolts and maybe a broom. Now, place the lane separator on the road area where you want to fix it. Mark the area with chalk. Make sure you also mark the bolt holes’ position on the pavement.

Step 2

Start drilling the marked areas with a high-speed hammer drill. Clean the area with the broom. Make sure debris and dust are all removed.

Step 3

Insert one log anchor in each hole made on the pavement. These anchors should be even with the road surface.

Black and yellow lane dividers are being installed.

Step 4

Most lane separators have protective paper attached to their bottom. Remove that paper from the separator. Position the separator above the ground according to the placement of drilled holes.

Step 5

Get bolts and place one bolt in each bolt hole of the lane segregator. Push bolts inside each anchor log and then start tightening them. Some people over-tighten the bolt, thinking they secure the separator more tightly.

However, this mistake can cost you a lane separator because over-tightening can damage a separator at the bold position. Make sure you do not repeat this common mistake.

Step 6

If your lane separator came with caps for mounting holes, then you should place each cap in its respective position to ensure that water or any other environmental element that can damage the bolt or separator, in general, does not go inside the tool.

Conclusion

Lane separators play several roles, including protecting cyclists, separating lanes on a single road, managing traffic, and reducing road accidents.

If people in your area ride cycles or bikes but the roads do not have cycle lane separators for their protection, you should request the administration install them and provide protection to cyclists, bikers, etc.

When buying lane separators, make sure you select the right brand. Sino Concept is a well-known lane separator brand offering two rubber lane separators. You should check these separators and consider buying them if they fit your needs.