Cycle
'Cycle' -
- A term that captures all types of pedal-powered vehicle (for instance, tricycles), as opposed to 'bicycle', which refers only to two wheels. Defined in the 1988 Road Traffic Act as 'a bicycle, a tricycle, or a cycle having four or more wheels, not being in any case a motor vehicle',
- In traffic signal control, a 'cycle' is a complete sequence of operation, of all the stages.
- Generally, longer cycles tend to favour motor traffic over walking and cycling. While they reduce 'lost' time in the overall number of phases, they will disadvantage people walking and cycling because they will typically have longer to wait to cross roads, or to get a green signal. Short cycles are advantageous in this regard.