Bikeway Design Guide

BIKE LANES
STANDARD BIKE LANE
Bike lanes are marked by striping, signs and
pavement markings as an exclusive travel
lane for bicyclists.
Typical Dimensions: 5’ - 8’
Typical Applications: Streets with travel
speed between 25 - 35 mph. Acceptable
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Source: FABB Source: CCCTMA

BUFFERED BIKE LANE

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provide additional “shy” distance between
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Typical Dimensions: 4’ - 5’ bike lane paired
with 3’buffer
Typical Applications: Same as standard
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speed and volume make additional
separation preferable for most bicyclists.
yclists. 13
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Bike lanes that
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way
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kn Track
Typical
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Dimme sions: 5’’ - 8’ bike lane paired
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Typicc l Applications:
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Appplications: Roadways with high
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OLLLORED BIKE LANE
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areas.
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Appp plications Areas of frequent
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and bicyclists
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lists such as intersections and
driveways.
ays
ay ys.. Also
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A soo used
u to deter vehicles from
illegally parking
par
ark
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ngg in bike
b lanes. South
h Street
S etet Bridge,
B ge e, Philadelphia
P adedelp Colored Treatment at a Driveway, Austin
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SHARED ROADS
SHARED LANE
A method used to designate preferred
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alert motorists to the presence of bicyclists
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Typical Applications: Preferably on low
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mph if space constraints rule out bike lanes. Source: CCCTMA Source: Green Lane Project

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Continuous stretches of shared roads that
give priority to bicycle travel by removing
frequent stopping. Use signs, pavements
markings, speed controls and volume
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Typical Applications: Low volume residential
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Source: CCCTMA Source: oregonlive.com

SHARED USE PATHS

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MULTI-USE TRAIL
A shared use path separated from motor
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intended for non-motorized users. Differing
uses may be segregated in some cases.
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Typical Dimensions: ··

Typical Applications: Linear corridors within
independent rights-of-way with minimal
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Segregated Uses, Indian Creek Greenway, Huntsville, AL Wildwood Crest Bike Path, Wildwood Crest, NJ
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SIDEPATH
A shared-use path that runs adjacent to
the roadway. Unlike sidewalks, sidepaths
are designed for bicycle operating speeds.
Typical Dimensions: ··
Typical Applications: Adjacent to roadways
with limited interruptions such as driveways
or intersections. Situations where improving
the roadway to accommodate bicycle
Schuylkyll River Trail, Philadelphia Ninth Street, Ocean City, NJ
travel is impractical. Source: CCCTMA Source: CCCTMA

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INTERSECTION TREATMENTS
BIKE BOX
Dedicated areas placed ahead of
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a bicyclist’s visibility, facilitate left turning
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and allow them to clear intersections faster.
Typical Applications: Busy signalized
intersections where multiple turning
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bicyclists and motor vehicles. Bike Box Diagram A Green Bike Box , Portland, OR
Source: City of Minneapolis Source: Green Lane Project

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Provide a safe method of making left turns
on multi-lane roadways from bikeways
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Typical Applications: At signalized
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intersections or mid-block locations where

bicyclists can be expected to turn. A Set-back Two Stage Turn Box Two Stage Turn Box, Portland, OR
Source: Streetsblog San Francisco Source: NACTO

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Allow bicyclists to correctly position
themselves to the left of right turning
vehicles to avoid “right hook’ collisions.
Uses pavement markings and signs to alert
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Typical Applications: At signalized

intersections with a right turn lane and a
right-side bike lane where bicyclists may be
expected to continue straight. A High Visibility Through Lane Bike Lane Dashed Through Intersection, Portland, OR
Source: NACTO Source: NACTO

SHARED TURN LANE

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bike lane in situations where roadway
space is constrained. Employs dashed
markings, paired with signs, to delineate
space for bicyclist within the shared lane.
Typical Applications: Intersections with a
right turn lane where space constraints rule
out through bike lanes. Not recommended
where a high volume of right turning motor Combined Turn Lane Mixing Zone Combined Turn Lane, Marlton Parkway, Evesham Twp.
YHKLFOHWUDIÀFLVDQWLFLSDWHG Source: NACTO Source: CCCTMA

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Design Guide, April 2011 Edition. Both publications are approved as standards for bikeway design by the U.S.
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RIGHTSIZING ROADWAYS
ROAD RECONFIGURATION BEFORE AFTER

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vehicle lanes can rightsize a roadway to
better serve the needs of a community
and improve safety for all road users.
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road diet, involves converting a four lane
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lanes and a center two-way left turn
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bike lanes and pedestrian improvements. 44’ 44’

Source: Virginia DOT Source: Virginia DOT

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APPLICATIONS
Rightsizing may be appropriate on
roads that have safety issues or excess
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be coordinated with roadway repaving
or reconstruction to minimize costs since
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many projects only require restriping.
Good Candidates: Four lane roadways
with less than 20,000 Annual Average
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Source: Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center Source: Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
1,700 vehicles per peak hour.
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BENEFITS
• Increase roadway safety and access
• Create space for bicycle lanes and/or
on-street parking
• Create space for median refuge islands
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• Decrease crossing distance for

pedestrians
• Center turn lanes reduce likelihood of
rear-end and side-swipe crashes
• Improve compliance with speed limit
Traditional Road Diet in Charlotte, NC Rightsized Street with Planted Median in Charlotte, NC
• Can be tested as trial projects Source: Oaks & Spokes Source: Project for Public Spaces

LANE NARROWING
The suitable width of travel lanes may vary
depending on roadway function, vehicle
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uses. Established roadway design guides
recognize the need to tailor lane widths to
suit local conditions. Narrowing lanes on
streets with unnecessarily wide travel lanes
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lanes, and increase safety for all road users. Before: 4 Lane Road with Narrow Shoulder in Portland, OR After: Lanes Narrowed to Create Buffered Bike Lanes
Source: Google Source: Bike Portland

Typical lane widths: 9’ - 12’

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Research, 2013DQGWKH$PHULFDQ$VVRFLDWLRQRI6WDWH+LJKZD\DQG7UDQVSRUWDWLRQ2IÀFLDOV·$$6+72Guide
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RIGHTSIZING ROADWAYS
ROAD RECONFIGURATION BEFORE AFTER

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vehicle lanes can rightsize a roadway to
better serve the needs of a community
and improve safety for all road users.
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road diet, involves converting a four lane
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lanes and a center two-way left turn
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bike lanes and pedestrian improvements. 44’ 44’

Source: Virginia DOT Source: Virginia DOT

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APPLICATIONS
Rightsizing may be appropriate on
roads that have safety issues or excess
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be coordinated with roadway repaving
or reconstruction to minimize costs since
AF
many projects only require restriping.
Good Candidates: Four lane roadways
with less than 20,000 Annual Average
'DLO\7UDIÀF9ROXPH$$'7RUIHZHUWKDQ Before: Undivided 4 Lane Road After: 3 Lane Road Bike Lanes and Center Turn Lane
Source: Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center Source: Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
1,700 vehicles per peak hour.
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BENEFITS
• Increase roadway safety and access
• Create space for bicycle lanes and/or
on-street parking
• Create space for median refuge islands
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• Decrease crossing distance for

pedestrians
• Center turn lanes reduce likelihood of
rear-end and side-swipe crashes
• Improve compliance with speed limit
Traditional Road Diet in Charlotte, NC Rightsized Street with Planted Median in Charlotte, NC
• Can be tested as trial projects Source: Oaks & Spokes Source: Project for Public Spaces

LANE NARROWING
The suitable width of travel lanes may vary
depending on roadway function, vehicle
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uses. Established roadway design guides
recognize the need to tailor lane widths to
suit local conditions. Narrowing lanes on
streets with unnecessarily wide travel lanes
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lanes, and increase safety for all road users. Before: 4 Lane Road with Narrow Shoulder in Portland, OR After: Lanes Narrowed to Create Buffered Bike Lanes
Source: Google Source: Bike Portland

Typical lane widths: 9’ - 12’

The standards, dimensions, and applications contained in this guide are based on review of the U.S. Department
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1RUWK&DUROLQD+LJKZD\6DIHW\5HVHDUFK&HQWHU·V81&+65&Road Diet Conversions: A Synthesis of Safety
Research, 2013DQGWKH$PHULFDQ$VVRFLDWLRQRI6WDWH+LJKZD\DQG7UDQVSRUWDWLRQ2IÀFLDOV·$$6+72Guide
for Achieving Flexibility in Highway Design, 2004.