BICYCLE PLANNING AND NETWORK DESIGN

MARK BRUSSEL
CONTENT OF LECTURE

a) Cycling inclusive planning

b) Discussion: Bicyle design, how to approach it?
c) Example of a bicycle network design process
d) The 5 principles of bicycle network design as developed and
applied in the Netherlands
e) Bicycle network design and GIS
f) Two methods presented for data scarce environments
LEARNING OBJECTIVES OF THIS LECTURE

After this lecture students should be able to:

Explain the concept of cycling inclusive planning

Discuss concepts of cycling network design and describe the 5 principles
approach followed in the Netherlands.
Appreciate the role of GIS systems in contributing to network design.

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WHAT IS CYCLING INCLUSIVE PLANNING?

Cycling inclusive planning is ensuring that the role of cycling is part of

the integrated land use and transport planning.
Its goal is to realise as much as possible the potential that cycling
offers.

In doing so it
Contributes to meet the transport needs of individuals & society
Maximises contribution to social & economic well being
Contributes to
Road safety
Liveability
Environmental quality
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THE MUTUALLY INFLUENCING MARKETS

Travel Transport
market market
(trips) Traffic
(transport
Activity patterns market
systems)
Spatial distribution (flows)
Availability
Spread in time Routes
Effectiveness
Avoid trips Speeds
Efficiency
Manoeuvres
Status
AVOID Congestion
Spatial planning etc. Costs
Safety

SHIFT : integrated IMPROVE: fuels,

multimodal systems traffic management 5
FINDING THE OPTIMAL MIX IN THE TRANSPORT MARKET

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KEY POLICY OBJECTIVES FOR CYCLING

Increasing access to jobs, facilities, education

Improvement of the quality of the living environment
Improving social and traffic safety
Improvement of public health

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DESIGNING OF CYCLING NETWORKS
- HOW WOULD YOU DO IT ?

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DISCUSSION: CYCLING NETWORK DESIGN

Is cycling network design different from normal road design?

In what way is it different?
Are we employing typical road infrastructure planning techniques such
as the 4 step transport model?
Do we need data on cycling (potential) origins and destinations
Does our household survey contain this data?
Is our OD trip table multi-modal?

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CONCEPTUAL IDEA OF CYCLING TRIPS

Large office area

Large residential
area, low income

Small
residential
area, high
Large Central business income
market district

Residential area,
medium income

Recreational area

Map the main origins and destinations in the area and the OD-flows in between. The size of the OD-relations can be
indicated with the bandwidth of the arrows. The main (potential) cycle routes can be found from the OD-flow pattern.

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THE FIVE PRINCIPLES OF BICYCLE NETWORK DESIGN

1. Safety
2. Coherence
3. Directness
4. Comfort
5. Attractiveness

(source: Boudewijn Bach,1990)

1 SAFETY
SIX WAYS OF MAKING BICYCLE TRAFFIC SAFER

1. Reduce car speeds: Traffic calming, road narrowing etc.

2. Separate traffic with significant speed differences
Separate cyclists and pedestrians;
Avoid cyclists or cars together on roads of more than 30km/hr
Separate through traffic from access traffic

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EXAMPLES SAFETY:
TRAFFIC CALMING

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EXAMPLES SAFETY
BICYCLES AND CARS COMPLETELY SEPARATED

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EXAMPLES SAFETY: WHOSE ROAD IS IT ANYWAY?
BIKE STREETS: THE CAR IS GUEST

Force cars to keep low speeds!

1 SAFETY
SIX WAYS OF MAKING BICYCLE TRAFFIC SAFER

3. Make roads and intersections predictable and understandable

Implement a clear road hierarchy by road function
Distinguish in design between through roads for cars and cycle
traffic, local access or habitat roads with pedestrian activities etc.

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EXAMPLES SAFETY:
SPECIAL SOLUTIONS

Solution for an intersection that is different from a regular crossing to avoid

conflicts between cyclists.

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1 SAFETY
SIX WAYS OF MAKING BICYCLE TRAFFIC SAFER

4. Change traffic circulation, e.g by:

Eliminate motorized traffic e.g. in commercial inner city areas
Other road designs for cars like cul-de-sacs, but leave paths for
cyclists and pedestrians;
If a road includes two parking lanes, dedicate one to cyclists
One-way traffic routes should allow cyclists to travel two ways

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1 SAFETY
SIX WAYS OF MAKING BICYCLE TRAFFIC SAFER

5. Change the use of existing spaces

Create public green space or parks
Private gardens or properties.
6. Construct tunnels, bridges, overpasses for cyclists, pedestrians and/or
motorized traffic

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2 COHERENT SYSTEM

1. A complete network of cycle facilities (network level; mainly important

for urban and traffic planners);
2. Freedom to choose different routes (network level; mainly important for
urban and traffic planners);
3. Consistent quality (recognizable layout, primarily requires attention from
designers);
4. Complete (uninterrupted) routes (primarily requires attention from
designers);
5. Proper signposting (primarily requires attention from designers).
FIETSENNETWERK DELFT FIETSACTIEPLAN II

1 5
S0 S1

3
S0

2
W0
2
6 R0
S0
4
S0
R01

1
W0
S02

3
W0

R03
S07

S08
S09

S10
4
W0

S11
R07

R04

S12 S13

R05 S14

W05 R06

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1 .50 KM
SCHAAL 0 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25

LEGENDA
Fietsroute regionaal netwerk (Hoofdfietsnetwerk)
Knelpunt in regionaal netwerk (Hoofdfietsnetwerk)
Fietsroute stadsnetwerk (Hoofdfietsnetwerk)
Ontbrekende schakel in stadsnetwerk (Hoofdfietsnetwerk)

Fietsroute wijknetwerk
Ontbrekende schakel in wijknetwerk
Midden Delfland route
Gemeentegrens
XXX Comfort verbetering
3 DIRECTNESS

1. Planners should give priority to:

Short routes for cyclists;
Two-way cycle traffic, preferably on all roads;
Avoiding conflicts with pedestrians
Ways to achieve this:
A finely meshed cycle network;
Cycling is allowed on all urban roads where no cycling
infrastructure exists
Make shortcuts wherever possible;
Keep cycle paths, lanes and routes as straight as possible;
Ensure pedestrians have separate facilities;
Favourable signalling for cyclists;
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4 COMFORT

Cycling infrastructure should provide a smooth surface, favour

manoeuvrability and limit the need for cyclists to stop.
Ways to achieve this:
Minimize stops by providing right of way and favourable signalling;
Ensure a smooth, comfortable road surface;
Provide cycle routes that are wide enough for cyclists with children,
packages or on special vehicles such as tricycles;
Include natural landscaping that provides shelter from wind, direct
sunlight and rain;
Avoid components that force cyclists to stop, dismount, deal with
unnecessary curves or right angles.

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EXAMPLES COMFORT:
CARPET PAVEMENT, RIGHT OF WAY, ETC.

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5 ATTRACTIVENESS

Cycling infrastructure should be carefully designed and fitted to

surroundings so that the option of cycling becomes attractive.

Ways to achieve this:

Cycle routes pass through attractive and varied surroundings;
Cycle routes coincide as little as possible with car and public
transport corridors, especially where there is no segregation
between modes;
Cycle routes make use of areas with natural vigilance and other
components necessary for cyclists, especially women and children,
to feel safe.

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EXAMPLES ATTRACTIVENESS:
SURROUNDING, LANDSCAPING ETC.

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COMMON PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS TABLE (1)
Problem: Solution:
1. Speed difference between bicycles and - Traffic calming (30 k/hour zones, woonerf)
other vehicles - Enforcement,
- Segregation, parallel routes
2. Lack of dedicated space
Tiny gaps between moving vehicles and the - Provide dedicated space (segregated / shared)
curb / parked cars or between 2 lanes of - Alternative parallel routes
moving traffic. Parked cars pulling in & out;
opening doors - Rumble strips on the road surface
3. Intersections - Adjust/reconstruct intersections
Long crossing distances - Reduce speed on all sides
High speeds - Pre-signalling for cyclists
Signalling favouring faster modes - Adjust phasing of signals
4. Difficult weaving movements - Reduce speed where modes are mixed
Cyclists turning right crossing lanes - Weaving lanes
Cyclists going straight, traffic turning L or R - Dedicated crossings

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COMMON PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS TABLE (2)
Problem:
5. Road markings: absent/ partial/
confusing
Inconsistency encourages less disciplined
behaviour
6. Proximity of trucks and buses
Especially while turning
Fast vehicles create draughts
Passengers (dies) embarking
7. Detours
Discontinuities in existing facilities
8. Weak enforcement of traffic laws:
Red light braking
Speeding (especially motorbike couriers)
Car encroaching on cycle tracks (at pinch
points, parking, loading)
Jaywalking pedestrians
Solution:
- Definition of policy / standards of: having traffic
lanes, cycle lanes through intersections, white
lines, logos, red surface etc.
- Minimize road markings within Habitat areas
- Special zones for trucks and buses
- Minimum bus & cycle lane width
- Careful design of bus stops
- Contra flows for cyclists
- Run cycle tracks through intersections
- Better laws and regulations
- Enforcement of all laws and regulations
- Segregation
- Parking & loading windows
- More green time for pedestrians
- Educational campaigns to ensure all users
understand the different rules, the rationale
behind them, and how they apply to the different
transport modes 28
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COMMON PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS TABLE (3)
Problem: Solution:

9. Cyclists not being seen - Cyclist and driver education

- Enforcement of proper lighting, reflectors, bells
- Designs boxes that designate a stopping area
for cyclists, clearly visible to drivers
- Avoid designs that leave cyclists stopped in
cars blind spots
10. General abundance of traffic and - Implementation of an integrated and efficient
parking public transport system
Its general presence and sometimes erratic - Traffic calming (30 km/hr zones, Woonerf)
movements - More car free areas
No place for social activities (incl. play) - Diminishing the number of parked cars and
Noise & pollution strict enforcement
11. Bad road condition - Regular maintenance
Holes, trenches - Remove street furniture where cyclists could
Glass and wet leaves be crushed up against it by turning vehicles
(tight) corners
Street furniture - railings
- Locate lighting and electric posts out of
pedestrian and cycle routes and, where possible,
bury utilities, thus reducing the number of posts
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APPLYING GIS IN CYCLING NETWORK DESIGN W3H

What? What can GIS do for us?

When? At which stage of the design process?
Why? Is it beneficial to apply GIS?
How? Data modeling and methods

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GIS IN CYCLING NETWORK DESIGN WHAT AND WHEN?
WHAT CAN GIS DO FOR US? IN WHICH PHASE OF THE DESIGN PROCESS?

What? When in the design process?

Analyse and visualise the cycling

infrastructure in its context

Model links, networks and potential

routes
Store relevant attribute data such as
data from LOS surveys
Find suitable locations for cycling
infrastructure
Carry out accessibility analysis
Model the integration with PT
Others?

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GIS IN CYCLING NETWORK DESIGN WHY?
IS IT BENEFICIAL TO USE GIS IN THE DESIGN PROCESS

Potential benefits
A more quantitative, scientific, verifiable and possibly transparent
approach
Spatial analysis allows for inclusion of variety of data based on location
Enhanced possibilities to visualise and discuss with stakeholders

Potential disbenefits:
Investment in time and money to develop the system
Overemphasis on (mostly quantitative) factors that can be modeled,
whereas other factors can not be modeled

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GIS IN CYCLING NETWORK DESIGN HOW?
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER AND THEIR DATA NEEDS- BEHAVIOURAL

Behavioural aspects:
Where do current cyclists reside? Where do potential cyclists reside?
What are their main trip patterns (to where, how often, what purpose)
For which trips (if any) do they use the bicycle?
Is the bicycle used for Integration with PT?
Which restrictions or barriers do they face?

How can we model such data in GIS?

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GIS AND BICYCLE NETWORK DESIGN HOW?
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER AND THEIR DATA NEEDS - PHYSICAL

Network related
What are appropriate routes to be taken by cyclists? (safe, coherent ,
direct, comfortable, attractive (Bachs 5 principles).
Environment related:
Do we need physical data that is not network related but is based on the
surrounding area? (spatial context data)

How can we model these data in a GIS?

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HOW TO MODEL THE QUALITY OF THE EXISTING CYCLING
NETWORK AND INFRASTRUCTURE?
Key variables Dimensions
Elements
1. Network characteristics 1. Bicycle path to network density Per network
Network coherence 2. Connected node ratio
Network connectivity 3. Link node ratio
Accessibility 4. Alpha index
5. Network coherency ratio
6. Access and egress to a bicycle
network
2. Routes Bicycle route directness Per route
Directness Bicycle route safety index
Safety Route comfort index
Comfort & convenience Route attractiveness index
Attractiveness Route accessibility index
Accessibility Route crossability count
Crossability
3. Multi modal integration 1. Facilitated bus stop index - Per segment
- Per kilometre
- Per area
4. Bicycle infrastructure 1. Infrastructure measurement and - Per segment
Quantity count - Per kilometre
Quality - Per area
5. Bicycle infrastructure facilities 1. Facility count - Per segment
- Per kilometre
- Per area
6. Bicycle operations and 1. Bicycle Level-of-Service - Per segment
compatibility 2. Bicycle Compatibility Index - Per kilometre 35
GIS AND BICYCLE NETWORK DESIGN HOW?
TYPICAL METHODS APPLIED

Network analysis (shortest path, accessibility analysis etc.

Overlay analysis (e.g. linking the network with other data sources such as
socio-economic, or demand)
Travel demand analysis, OD patterns, desire lines
Suitability analysis, often including multi-criteria analysis
Accessibility analysis, also competition based to determine where cycling
has an edge.

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EXAMPLE OF THE APPLICATION OF GIS IN BICYCLE NETWORK
PLANNING AND DESIGN THE CYCLING THROUGH METHOD APPLIED
IN DAR ES SALAAM

identify potential links for bicycle network improvements

Support decision making in bicycle network planning
Basic idea: Bicycle network connections as direct as possible
Directness from comparing existing and euclidian network
The method provides information on how and where new bicycle
infrastructure should be developed
The method can be used where no or only limited bicycle
infrastructure is present, but where cycling is taking place along
existing transport infrastructure corridors.
Given that distance is of less importance to motorized transport, the
method would still indicate important connections (possibly short-cuts)
away from existing corridors of movement.
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THE CYCLING NETWORK DEVELOPMENT METHODOLOGY

Bicycle trip generation rates (cyclist intercept or HH survey)

Bicycle O & D data, trip rate and speed data combined into a gravity
model in two stages.
1. Determining euclidian skim matrix (represents potential)
2. Determining network skim matrix (represents existing trips)
Overlay desire lines on a grid in GIS gives bicycle demand density
Same is done for the current trips based on a network assignment
Divide the 2 demand density spaces (spatial demand mismatch)
Missing links generated as additions to a bicycle network.

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EXAMPLE CYCLING NETWORK DESIGN WITH GIS
DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

No connectivity and access to all

popular destinations.
Lack of convenience and
attractiveness
In some areas cyclists share high
volume with cars

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CYCLING DEMAND DENSITIES
BASED ON EUCLIDEAN AND NETWORK DISTANCE

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MISSING LINKS

Missing links are parts of the

road network where bicycle
facilities need to be established
to facilitate the flow of cycling
Identified in those areas where
bicycle infrastructure
connections are absent
Results provide a firs indication
based on demand, but are no
final route designs

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SHORTCOMINGS OF METHOD

In its basic form, the method only redistributes existing trips, as the
gravity model assumes a constant demand
This can be overcome by adding generated bike trips, this requires
more survey data and an iterative modeling approach
The method would be enhanced by taking the road network right of
way and/or level of service issues into account

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Belm, Brazil
OBJECTIVE

To develop a GIS-SMCE methodology

for the evaluation of potential bicycle routes
aiming the optimization of a cycling network in
a
Data Scarce Environment
METHODOLOGY
METHODOLOGY
METHODOLOGY
 Potential Routes Generated by Network Analysis
Location of more
likely bicycle trips
origins were
assumed based on
available data
Proposed Network
CONCLUSIONS

Data Scarce Environments?

Decision Support Tool?

Flexibility ?

Adaptability?

Local Knowledge?
FURTHER READING

Urban design and traffic, a selection from Bach's toolbox, (in your
posession)
Cycling - inclusive policy development : a handbook / ed. by T.
Godefrooij, C. Pardo, L. Sagaris. Eschborne : Utrecht : Deutsche
Gesellschaft fr Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), Interface for
Cycling Expertise, 2009.

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