thumb|Dutch-style roundabout, a type of [[protected intersection]]

Bicycle transportation planning and engineering are the disciplines related to transportation engineering and transportation planning concerning bicycles as a mode of transport and the concomitant study, design and implementation of cycling infrastructure. It includes the study and design of dedicated transport facilities for cyclists (e.g. cyclist-only paths) as well as mixed-mode environments (i.e. where cyclists share roads and paths with vehicular and foot traffic) and how both of these examples can be made to work safely. In jurisdictions such as the United States it is often practiced in conjunction with planning for pedestrians as a part of active transportation planning.

Networks, signage and maps

Most national cycling route networks have long-distance named routes, rather like highways. However, the international numbered-node cycle network has a modular design that enables arbitrary routes using simple signage. Both aim to minimize map use with plentiful signs.

Cycle networks of routes can be developed in co-ordination with cycle maps. Co-ordination can be local or national (the numbered-node cycle network has national co-ordination in some countries, and local co-ordination in others).

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File:Colliers Wood London 2011 07.jpg|alt=Destinations of CS7 in the style of a tube line, on a large upright sign.|Cycle Superhighway CS7 start point at Colliers Wood Underground Station]

File:Milton Keynes Redway.gif|Cycleway network in Milton Keynes. NCR routes 6 and 51 are highlighted in red. In 1970 in the United Kingdom, the Milton Keynes Development Corporation produced the "Master Plan for Milton Keynes".

File:Biketrail map2detail.jpg| A locator map on the numbered-node cycle network, at node 20 in Schoten, near Antwerp. Each intersection is marked with a numbered circle; any route through the network can be represented as a string of numbers.

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Bikeways

Some examples of the types of bikeways under the purview of bicycle transportation engineers include partially segregated infrastructure in-road such as bike lanes, buffered bike lanes; physically segregated in-road such as cycle tracks; bike paths with their own right-of-way; and shared facilities such as bicycle boulevards, shared lane markings, advisory bike lane, road shoulders, wide outside lanes, shared street schemes, and any roadways with legal access for cycling.

In roadway

NACTO guidelines state "desired width for a cycle track should be 5 feet (1.5 m). In areas with high bicyclist volumes or uphill sections, the desired width should be 7 feet (2.1 m)".

CROW standard width for one way cycle paths in the Netherlands is a minimum of 2.5 m (8′). For bidirectional use the minimum is 3.5 m (11′).

Unsegregated

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File:1dir-car, bike 2dir.png|One-way street with two-way shared cycling

New Road, Brighton - shared space.jpg|Streetscape in which all modes of travel (pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists) share the road

Lake Road Northshore Nov 08.jpg|Streetscape in which cyclists and motorists share the road

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  • Bicycle boulevard
  • Shared bus and cycle lane

Partially segregated

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Canberra bicycle lane.jpg|Streetscape with dedicated cycle facilities next to other traffic

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  • Cycle lane
  • Shared lane marking

Segregated

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File:1dir-car, 2x 1dir-cyc.png|One way street with two way cycle tracks and shared road

File:1dir-car, 2dir-cyc re.png|One way street with a single two way cycle track on right

File:1dir-car, 2dir-cyc left.png|One way street with a single two way cycle track on left

File:Bicycle lane with concrete barrier ottawa 2011.jpeg|Cycle tracks with concrete barriers in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on Laurier Avenue in 2011.

File:DNK bicycle light 1.jpg|Separate traffic light for automobiles and bicycles on cycle track in Denmark

File:Bicycle lanes in intersection ottawa 2011.jpeg|Cycle track with green lanes through intersection in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (also on Laurier) in 2011.

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  • Cycle track
Barriers

Options for barriers are soft-hit posts, raised curb or traffic barriers.

Off road

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etawahagra.jpg| long cycle highway between Etawah and Agra in India

Søruten, Copenhagen.jpg|Copenhagen, Denmark

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  • Bike path
  • Rail trail

Bike freeway

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Fietssnelweg F35 at Go Planet.jpg|The bicycle highway F35 in Enschede.

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  • Bike freeway

Intersections and signals

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2 Fahrstreifen + 2-Richt-Fusz- u Radweg.png|Separation without sufficient space worsens conditions for cycling

Cyclist advanced stop line Liverpool.jpg|Advanced stop line, Liverpool, UK

Chine vert-partiel.JPG|Signals for cyclists in China

Protected roundabout 3D.png|Protected intersection

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Bicycle transportation engineers also are involved in improving intersections/junctions and traffic lights.

Advanced stop lines are one example of road markings on mixed mode shared space as cycling infrastructure.

Other infrastructure

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File:Old bike shed at Chokai JHS.jpg|Bicycle parking

Car shaped bicycle rack in Earlham Street - cropped.jpg|Bike rack shaped like a car

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Road diets, curb extension, improving the road surface; building bicycle parking such as bicycle locks, bicycle stands, lockers.

Legislation

in California new bikeway design standards were last adopted in 1976. Those designs were adapted by the Association of American State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to become the AASHTO Guide for Bicycle Facilities, which is followed in the USA.

See also

  • Bikeway controversies
  • Bicycle Master Plan
  • Bikeway safety
  • Cyclability
  • CROW Design Manual for Bicycle Traffic
  • Bicycle mobility
  • Sustainable transport
  • Outline of cycling
  • Cycling infrastructure
  • Mikael Colville-Andersen

References