DESIGN OF BICYCLE FACILITIES

Introduction
Small percentage of the total traffic
stream - sufficient enough to have an
impact on street planning and design
Typical areas that will most likely generate
bicycle trips

Schools, Colleges, and Universities,

CBDs,
Major employment centres,
Recreational facilities
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Definitions
Bicycle -a vehicle having two tandem
wheels propelled solely by human power
on which any person or persons may ride.
Bikeway - trail, path, part of a highway or
shoulder, sidewalk, or any other means
specifically marked and assigned for
bicycle use

Classification of Bikeways

Class I Bikeway: Completely separated from

vehicular traffic and within an independent right-ofway or the right-of-way of another facility. Bikeways
separated from vehicles but shared by both bicycles
and pedestrians are included in this classification

Classification of Bikeways.... (I)

Class II Bikeway
Part of the roadway or shoulder is marked
by pavement markings on barriers.Vehicle
parking, crossing, or turning movements are
permitted within the bikeway

Classification of Bikeways.... (II)

Class III Bikeway

Shares right-of-way with motor vehicles; are
designated by signing only. There is hardly
any protection from motor vehicles,
although the signing helps to make the
motorist aware of the presence of bicyclists

Classification of Bikeways
As per Highway Capacity Manual (TRB,
2000)
Bike Lane - A portion of a roadway is
striped, signed, and, marked for exclusive
or preferential use of the bicyclists
Bike path - Bikeway is physically separated
from motorized vehicular traffic, either
within the highway right-of-way or within
an independent right-of-way
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Classification of Bikeways
As per Highway Capacity Manual (TRB, 2000)
Uninterrupted facilities - exclusive and
shared bicycle paths that are physically
separated from vehicular roadways and do
not have points of fixed interruption within
the path, except at terminal points.
Interrupted bicycle facilities - on-street
bicycle lanes that pass through signalized and
unsignalised intersections, with or without
exclusive right-turn lanes for motor vehicle
traffic.
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Uninterrupted Facility

Interrupted Facility

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Capacity Limitations
The effect of bicycles sharing a lane with
other vehicles can be accounted for by
assigning an appropriate passenger-carequivalent (PCE) for each bicycle.
The turning movements of vehicle affect
bicycle streams in addition to conflicts
normally presented by opposing streams
of pedestrians and motor vehicles.

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Capacity Limitations
Bicycles moving straight may be
considered as unopposed. Right-turning
bicycles are considered as opposing
vehicular flow on two-way streets.
Left-turning bicycles may or may not
encounter significant pedestrian
interference, and therefore can be
considered as either opposed or
unopposed, depending on pedestrian
traffic condition.

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Bicycle LOS and SpeedSpeed-Flow Relationship

under Uninterrupted Flow

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Design of Cycle Tracks

Minimum width of cycle track should be 2
metres
Each additional lane required should be
1m
Separate cycle tracks should be provided
when the peak hour cycle traffic is 400 or
more on routes with motor vehicle traffic
of 100-200 vehicles per hour

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Bikeway Width Clearance

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When the number of motor vehicles

using the route is more than 200 vehicle
per hour, separate cycle track are justified
even if cycle traffic is only 100 per hour

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Capacity of Cycle Tracks

(IRC: 8686-1983)

Number of
Lanes

Width in (m)

Capacity in number of cycles/

hour

One-way traffic Two-way traffic

Two

250 to 600

50 to 250

Three

Over 600

250 to 600

Four

Over 600

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Design Speed

Safe and comfortable cycling - 20 mph

(32.18 kmph)

On down grades which exceed 7% - 30

mph (48.27 kmph-safe minimum

On up grades exceeding 3% - 15mph

(24.13 kmph)
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Stopping Sight Distance

Minimum stopping sight distance for a

distance criterion

Mounted cyclists eyes being 1.37 m from

the bikeway surface

Obstacle is on the surface, or 0 m.

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Width and Clearances

The minimum lane width plus clearance
(operating space) for level of service C is
about 1.52 m
Vertical space occupied by bicycle/cyclist
plus clearance requires about 2.44 m
Pedal clearance is 0.15 m
If a width of clearance, and if there is only
occasional pedestrian traffic, an additional
0.46 m is required.

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Horizontal Curves

Design criteria - design speed, radius of the

curve, and super elevation
For adult cyclist riding a 10 mph speed bike,
making 180o turns at various speeds; the
following empirical formula is applied
(Maryland Department of Transportation,
1977)
R= 1.528 V + 2.2
where
V- design speed in mph; R- curve radius in
feet.
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Bicycle LOS and SpeedSpeed-Flow

Relationship under Uninterrupted Flow

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Curve Widening
When the bikeway is shared with
pedestrians, additional manoeuvring space is
required to reduce potential bicycle and
pedestrian conflicts.
Curve widening is therefore advised at
short radius curves of less than 38.48 m
(100ft).
The maximum widening should not exceed
1.22.m.
Curve widening is recommended is areas in
which the use of by-mopeds is legal.

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Intersections

In order to avoid conflicts between cyclist

and motor vehicles at intersections,
special turning lanes should be provided
for bike traffic.

Also, whenever a bikeway crosses a curb

section, the curb should be depressed the
entire width of the bikeway.
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BIKEWAY LOCATIONS
The potential demand for the use of the
route must be determined.
The basic width needed for safe
operation must be provided. It is best to
consider one-way operation.
Continuity and directness of route
without much detour is essential,
connecting points of importance.

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BIKEWAY LOCATIONS
Safety is of prime importance. Attempts
to minimize vehicular/pedestrian conflicts
should be given the highest priority.
Grades should be within tolerable range.
A maximum of 5% is desirable.
The selection of pavement is of greater
importance to bicyclists as compared to
motorists. Ride quality of pavement and
even safety are affected by poor pavement
surfaces.

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BIKEWAY LOCATIONS
( CONTD..)
Areas with heavy automobile emissions
should be avoided; carbon monoxide is
particularly hazardous to pedestrians and
bicyclists.
Motor vehicle traffic should be avoided,
particularly truck, moving at speeds of 50
mph, which can upset the balance of a
bicyclist.

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Level--of
Level
of--Service (LOS) for Bicycle
Facilities

Hindrance as a performance measure

When travelling on a bikeway, two significant
parameters can be easily observed and
identified. These are the number of users
(other bicyclists, pedestrians, etc) moving in
the same direction and passed by the
bicyclist, and the number of users moving in
the opposing direction and encountered by
the bicyclist.
Each of these events causes some
discomfort and inconvenience to the
bicyclist.
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Level--of
Level
of--Service ( Contd..)
Hindrance was originally defined as the
fraction of users over 0.6 mi of a path
experiencing hindrance from passing and
meeting maneuvers.
This criterion is strongly related to the
time a bicyclist is involved in an event.

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Level--of
Level
of-- Service (LOS) Criteria for Uninterrupted
Bicycle Facilities (HCM, 2000)

LOS

Hindrance (%)

10

>10-20

>20-40

>40-70

>70-100

100

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