NCN2 Worthing to Lancing

Pedal the Prom, last yearJoin us for a National Bike Week ride along the Promenade and seafront cycle path to Brooklands Park for a family picnic!

This free ride is for all riders, including children provided they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The Ride will be led by experienced members of the WORTHING REVOLUTIONS CYCLE CLUB along the
shared use prom.

Pedal the Prom Picnic, last yearThe ride will leave from the seafront area

But what do they mean?

This section of cycle lane doesn’t have the escape route of the pedestrian side. It is possible to pass oncoming cyclists (as this image shows!) but only by riding right at the edge of the path. Fall off the edge into the shingle and you’ll be off your bike…

The cycle lane from Worthing to Brooklands is wide enough to pass others, but only if you use the pedestrian side (illegally).

East of Ham Road the route goes back to being segregated, but the cycle lane is rather narrow. Cyclists often ride on the pedestrian side, both to avoid oncoming cyclists and because it’s much smoother to ride on!

The main problem is avoiding the bollards when trying to overtake or pass other cyclists when there are pedestrians around. Timing can be critical.

Acres of rough red paint, on an undulating pavement, but at least there’s plenty of space to give people waiting for buses, or to cross the road, lots of space.

A pair of S bends here, with an uneven pavement to catch you out if you try to take a racing line outside the cycle lane.

This is a tight set of bends, and usually cyclists cut the corner off on the sea side of the wall, passing the bollard on the wrong side. This gives a better line through the gap, and is much easier than trying to stick to the slalom course.

Note the red bits: here this seems to denote shared use of the segregated cycle lane, going by the tactile paving that’s also spread generously around. But the white line suggests a segregated lane still.

And anyway, there is no law preventing pedestrians from walking on the cycling side (so it’s effectively shared use anyway). Next to a road the Highways Act makes it a criminal offence to cycle on the pavement, but away from roads, like here, that act doesn’t apparently apply. So riding on the pedestrian side here is probably quite legal.

From the east of Worthing Promenade we have a segregated cycle lane along the seafront. Cycle parts are green, with red patches where cyclists might need to take care, or for short shared-use sections.

The lane is just about wide enough for two-way use, although many cyclists cross the line to the pedestrian side to pass each other, especially if travelling fast.

The red banner shelters café seating on the beach, on the opposite side of the route from the café itself.