To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to produce regulations or guidelines relating to coloured markings on bus lanes and cycle lanes. [79634]

White markings indicating bus and cycle lanes, and yellow markings indicating bus stops and bus stop clearways, are prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations 1994. Guidance on their use is given in Chapter 5 of the Traffic Signs Manual and Local Transport Note 1/97 (Keeping Buses Moving). Coloured road surfaces have no meaning in law but may be used to increase the conspicuity of markings and give prominence to a section of the carriageway set aside for a particular purpose. The Highways Agency has included advice on the use of coloured surfaces for cycle lanes in their recently published guidance on Coloured Surfacing in Road Layouts.