Route for cycles only sign: what it means
The blue circle with a white bicycle means the route is for pedal cycles only. Cars and motorcycles must not use it; people on foot may still use cycle tracks unless a sign bans pedestrians.
What does the route for cycles only sign mean?
A blue circle gives a positive instruction or marks a route for one class of vehicle (Know your traffic signs). This one marks a route for pedal cycles only. Do not confuse it with the red circle with a bicycle, which bans cycling.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- Riding a bicycle is not allowed.
- Cyclists and pedestrians share one path.
- A route only for pedal cycles.
Show answer
C. A route only for pedal cycles. A blue circle with a bicycle marks a route for pedal cycles only (Know your traffic signs). Source: Know your traffic signs: bus and cycle signs and road markings, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 140, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule H2, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Where will you see it?
At the start of cycle tracks and cycle-only paths, and at entries where cyclists may continue but other vehicles may not.
What should you do?
Drivers: do not drive or park on it. Where a cycle track crosses a side road, give way to cyclists using it when you turn (Rule 140).
What do people get wrong?
Mixing up the blue cycle sign and the red cycle sign. Blue means a route for cycles, red means no cycling.
Common questions
Do cyclists have to use a cycle route?
No. The Highway Code says cyclists are not obliged to use cycle lanes or cycle tracks (rule 140).
Can pedestrians walk on a cycles-only route?
The Highway Code says pedestrians may use cycle tracks as well as the pavement, unless there are signs prohibiting pedestrians (rule H2).
Compare with
No cycling signRiding a bicycle is not allowed.
Shared route for cycles and pedestrians signCyclists and pedestrians share one path.
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 3 November 2026 against Know your traffic signs (bus and cycle signs and road markings) and The Highway Code rules 140 and H2.
- Know your traffic signs: bus and cycle signs and road markings, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code, rule 140, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code, rule H2, GOV.UK
- Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Traffic sign images are Crown copyright, from the Department for Transport. Sources and image credits.