Not only is it legal for a cyclist to ride in the middle of a lane, it’s actually got a name: the Primary Position, or ‘taking the lane’. Normally cyclists should ride in what’s called the secondary position, around 30cm to 1m from the kerb.

However, it can often be safest to adopt the primary position, for example if the road is narrow and it’s unsafe for a driver to pass you, or if you need to avoid riding in the ‘door zone’ past parked cars. The primary position is the centre of the lane, and it’s where you’ll find it easier to see and be seen.

It’s not mentioned in the Highway Code, but it is in the Bikeability training program which is itself based on the National Standard for Cycle Training, produced by the Department for Transport.