Warning: What you’re about to see might seriously test your faith in urban planning.
I’ve scoured the globe to bring you a collection of bike lanes so ‘wonderfully’ weird, that you’ll either laugh, cry, or do both simultaneously.
Here are some bike lanes that could only have been designed after a very long Friday night on the booze.
Hungary
Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down.
No, not a rollercoaster ride, but a bike path in Hungary.
This path looks like something you’d see in a 1980’s BMX track, not a bike lane in an urban city!
Note the oncoming cyclist riding off the lane to avoid those horrendous bumps!
Somewhere in the U.S.
'Alexia: please visualise the priorities of US transport planners.'
— Urban Cycling Institute ๐ฒ ๎จ (@fietsprofessor) October 17, 2022
Yes, that is actually a bike path!
Yes, those are actually 8 lanes for car drivers! pic.twitter.com/XnoJg4SHNa
Breaking: Cyclist accidentally auditions for Point Break remake!
In this thrilling footage, watch as the ocean demonstrates its new bike-wash service – complete with complementary rider rinsing.
In all seriousness though, this is actually a little worrying at one point. For both the rider and the bike getting swept out to sea.
Hong Kong
Bollard!
It’s one of the most common callouts on a group ride when navigating bike paths.
I think this takes the biscuit though!
This is from Hong Kong.
How many bollards do you need? What is the thinking here? Is there any thinking here?!
Santiago, Chile
Aรฑos que no pedaleaba por acรก: Club Hรญpico, probablemente la peor "ciclovรญa" de Chile.
— Ricardo Hurtubia (โง) (@rhurtubia) August 5, 2022
Que haya gente andando en bici cuando, hasta hace no mucho, esto era tomado en serio es realmente un milagro y un indicador de que Stgo tiene gran potencial ciclista (infraestructura mediante) pic.twitter.com/7COhpiQ7ZI
On my word!
Grimace as you watch a cyclist navigate unruly branches, hedges, turning cars and debris on what must be one of the narrowest bike “lanes” in Chile.
And to make matters more “interesting” it’s right beside a busy road.
Read more: How to avoid road rage
Hong Kong (Again)
Another one from Hong Kong (we’re not picking on guys, honest!)
This must be one of the shortest bike lanes in the world?
One commenter added:
They ran out of pavers, had to fill that corner with something to get paid
Lol – obviously a joke….but seriously, what’s going on here?
Let’s give the developers the benefit of the doubt and assume that the actual bike lane still needs to be built – they just did the last 5 meters to start with? ๐
Newton, Massachusetts
A telegraph pole right slap bang in the middle of a bike lane is one thing.
But a warning cone/bollard that is bigger than said pole is another.
Unknown Location – There Goes The Chain!
Who thought it was a good idea to run a hard curb across the bike lane at every single intersection? These suck. pic.twitter.com/djETEuQtD2
— It's Jamie (@SjamieIt) November 6, 2024
These types of bike lanes can work in the right scenario.
If you’re going to do them though, the transition from lane to road should be as smooth clipping into your pedals on the first try. AKA almost unnoticeable.
This poor cyclist dropped his chain and had to manually put back on.
Halifax, UK
I’m all for having road markings where appropriate, but isn’t this a bit OTT?!
“what is it for?”
‘What is it for’ isn’t the only remark from baffled locals, another added โwaste of moneyโ.
Not sure who was behind this idea, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a cyclist!
Bucharest, Romania
So you’re riding along, and all of a sudden there’s a great big tree trunk smack bang in the middle of the bike lane.
A fence sits directly to one side, so no way round there, so there’s no alternative but to slide past through the narrow gap between the wall and tree over the muddy grass.
The funniest part (funny?) is that there is a great big arrow painted in the middle of the trunk! You have to laugh!
“Someone doesn’t like cyclists – they upvoted the tree.”
Someone in the comments said, “Someone doesn’t like cyclists – they upvoted the tree.” ๐
London, UK
Westminster bridge cycle lane is just a pretty awful experience for everyone https://t.co/umNYeZUGST pic.twitter.com/E9tQVbZjPV
— Cycling in London (@Cycling_In_LDN) October 18, 2024
Welcome to Westminster’s hottest new walking club!
Members only, strictly no cyclists allowed – despite what those pesky bike symbols might suggest.
Someone really should tell these pedestrians they’re method-acting as obstacles in London’s most expensive bike lane.
St Louis, Missouri
Looking for adventure in St. Louis?
Skip the Gateway Arch and check out this exciting new bike lane feature!
Someone’s borrowed the manhole cover (presumably as a souvenir), leaving cyclists a thrilling game of “dodge the abyss.”
Not quite what they meant by urban cycling challenges. This is more suited to the BMX park!
Newport, UK
Where are we going here then?
Welcome to Wales’ newest green initiative – the world’s first hedge-integrated cycle lane!
Perfect for cyclists who fancy a bit of impromptu bush-whacking with their morning commute.
Helmet recommended, machete optional.
Mexico
In a bold move to diversify infrastructure usage, this former cycling route now doubles as a convenient construction dump.
Cyclists are advised to either grow wings or develop excellent bunny-hop skills.
Somewhere in the UK
Welcome to Britain’s newest bike lane puzzle game!
The rules are simple: figure out why anyone would install bollards in a bike lane, then solve the eternal mystery of whether to laugh or cry.
Perfect for cyclists who thought their route wasn’t quite challenging enough. Maybe it’s art?
Alternatively, it’s a great opportunity to practise your slalom skills?
Birmingham, UK
Stop, start, turn. Go. Wait, what?
What do you do here?!
Melbourne, Australia
One Redditor commented:
“I can see what theyโve done here, youโre meant to go up onto the footpath to cross at the lights, thatโs why they have a little ramp in the gutter.”
I mean, I guess. How about they make it more obvious that you’re supposed to use the “little ramp”?
I think this piece of work needs a v2.
Poznan, Poland
Ever wanted to experience cycling as an extreme sport?
Welcome to Poznanโs legendary zigzag bike path! Here, youโll swerve left, then right, then left again. Whoopee!
Itโs like someone designed the route during a rollercoaster fever dream. Hold tight, and prepare for unintended interval training!
Marseille, France
Another case of “tree in middle of bike lane”.
What were they thinking?
Washington, D.C. – U.S.
Someone in Washington decided that bike lanes needed more excitement, so they’ve strategically placed metal poles right in your path.
Perfect for testing your reflexes and night vision!
All joking aside, this is terrible cycling infrastructure and will no doubt cause injury (or worse), in time.
Location Unknown – Possibly UK
Cyclists, this way….
Straight into a metal fence!
This can’t be real, can it?!
There is a chance the fence has been photoshopped in. At least, that’s what I hope. Otherwise I’m losing more hope for humanity :/
Warrington, UK
In the UK, there’s a section of roads known as Spaghetti Junction.
This seems to be the cycling lane equivalent.
Welcome to Cyclist’s Confusion Corner, where even GPS systems have mental breakdowns trying to compute which way is actually forward.
Oakland, CA, U.S.
The bike lane that was installed on MacArthur Avenue near Mills College isnโt working as it was intended. Especially when thereโs any significant amount of vehicle traffic. Cars just swerved into the bike lane and use it as a second lane to pass other cars. pic.twitter.com/bAWizZ3Vuo
— Darwin BondGraham (@DarwinBondGraha) October 18, 2021
I think I’ll not ride down that bike lane, thank you very much…
So, that’s all the worst.
Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments below.
Or why not check out what we think are the best bike lane cities in the world.
