Things I Love: Number Two

A handwritten diary page titled Things I love: Number 2, about the varied hand-drawn bikes and stickmen painted on UK roads

Things I love: Number 2 — Monday 9th Nov ‘26

In the UK we draw bikes and little stickmen on the roads to show bikes and stickmen where to go. Many countries do this, obviously, but the UK seems to be fairly unique (I think?) in how we do it.

Many countries use templates for there bikes and stickmen. Each bike is the same, every stickman, a carbon copy of his friends on other roads. In the UK we just let the workers have a go at it. There’s a whole variety of bikes and stickmen out there. Some drawn well, but many crap ones.

I guess crap is an unfair word, it’s their art, who am I to call it crap?? Anyway there’s a really funny one on Nell Lane where the bike lane is. He’s proper gangly and everytime I see him I smile.

Bye x