CYCLE TRACK

from Columbus Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan

INTUITIVE WAYFINDING GROUND MARKINGS

A cycle track is an exclusive facility for bicyclists that is physically separated from motor vehicle traffic by vertical elements.

Cycle tracks may be one-way or two-way and may be at street level, at sidewalk level, or at an intermediate level. If at sidewalk level, a curb separates them from motor vehicle traffic while different pavement color or texture separates the cycle track from the sidewalk. If at street level, the cycle track can be separated from motor vehicle traffic by bollards, raised medians, flexible delineators, or on-street parking.

Cycle tracks are differentiated from conventional and buffered bicycle lanes by the vertical element that separates them from motor vehicle traffic. Cycle tracks are sometimes called “protected bicycle lanes” or “separated bicycle lanes.” Cycle tracks should be used in combination with sidewalks.

Benefits

Challenges

. This facility reduces the risk of “dooring” compared to bicycle lanes because they are located on the sidewalk side of parking, if present, rather than the vehicle lane side of parking like bicycle lanes.

Cycle tracks provide a comfortable experience for bicyclists of all ages and abilities.

. Cycle tracks can be implemented economically if rightof-way exists.

Developing appropriate treatments at intersections is challenging with two-way cycle tracks because they result in some bicyclists being on the wrong side of the street at the intersection. Integrating these bicyclists with vehicle traffic can be problematic; therefore, focused attention on the design of intersections and transitions to other facilities is essential to minimizing conflicts.

. Maintenance is minimized due to limited automobile wear. .

Cycle tracks provide dedicated and protected space for bicyclists, improving perceived safety and comfort.

Emergency, transit, and maintenance vehicle access can be challenging due to the physical barrier. Snow removal and street sweeping may require special equipment.

Compared to a conventional bicycle lane, cycle tracks utilize more road space and likely require the presence of more right-of-way.

Considerations

Cycle tracks are typically located on streets on which bicycle lanes would cause many bicyclists to feel stress because of factors such as multiple lanes, high traffic volume and speeds, high incidence of double parking, and high parking turnover.

When deciding between one-way and two-way cycle track configurations, designers should consider which configuration will provide clear and intuitive transitions to existing and planned bicycle facilities and which configuration minimizes conflicts between bicyclists, pedestrians, and motor vehicles.

On two-way streets, one-way cycle tracks on each side of the street are generally preferred because they follow normal traffic patterns. This configuration provides simple transitions to existing bicycle lanes and neighborhood bicycle routes and is consistent with driver expectation because bicyclist travel is the same direction as motor vehicle operation. One-way cycle tracks on both sides of the street also provide access to destinations on both sides of the street.

Two-way cycle tracks may be desirable when a high number of intersections or driveways are present on one side of the street.

Sidewalk-level cycle tracks can reduce roadway debris in the bicycle facility, compared to on-street cycle tracks, buffered bicycle lanes, and conventional bicycle lanes.

. For on-street cycle tracks, beveled or mountable curbs should be considered. Compared to standard height vertical curbs, sloping curbs minimize pedal strikes and allow bicyclists to exit the cycle track and dismount on a sidewalk.

For sidewalk level cycle tracks, it is important to delineate the boundary between the pedestrian and bicyclist areas. Consideration should be given to how this boundary can be detectable by individuals with vision disabilities.

When protected by a parking lane, 3 feet is the desired width for a parking buffer to allow for passenger loading and to prevent dooring collisions.

If configured as a raised cycle track (where the cycle track is at sidewalk elevation or an elevation between the sidewalk and street), the crossing of perpendicular streets should be raised, where the sidewalk and cycle track maintain their elevation through the crossing. Sharp inclines on either side from road to sidewalk level serve as a speed hump for motor vehicles.

The width of cycle tracks should allow passing of slower bicyclists and side-by-side riding where feasible.

Bicycle lane word, symbol, and/or arrow markings should be placed at the beginning of a cycle track and at periodic intervals along the facility to define the bicycle lane and indicate direction of travel.

A dashed yellow center line should be used to separate two-way bicycle travel on two-way cycle tracks and can be used to help distinguish the cycle track from adjacent pedestrian areas.

Intersection design for through and turning bicycle traffic should be carefully considered. Intersection treatments for cycle tracks can be found on pages 105-113.

For street level cycle tracks, gutters should not be included in the rideable surface width, unless that width is incorporated into the full width of the cycle track to provide a smooth rideable surface with no longitudinal joints or seams.

Design Guidelines

Cycle tracks should be designed, constructed, and maintained to meet the standards as published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) current edition, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), and the design guidelines below.

WIDTH: One-way cycle tracks have a preferred width of 7 feet (to allow passing) and a minimum width of 5 feet. Two-way cycle tracks have a preferred width of 12 feet and a minimum width of 8 feet to be used in constrained conditions only. Both measurements exclude the buffer area between the bicycle operating space and the motor vehicle travel lane.

SEPARATION FROM MOTOR VEHICLE LANE: Varies depending upon form of separation from motor vehicle traffic. See the following page.

SURFACE: Asphalt or concrete .

VERTICAL CLEARANCE: 10 feet preferred, 8 feet minimum .

HORIZONTAL CLEARANCE: 2 feet .

DESIGN SPEED: 18mph .

ONE-WAY CYCLE TRACK ON A TWO-WAY STREET CROSS SECTION

Forms Of Separation

Cycle tracks are physically separated from motor vehicle traffic by vertical elements. These vertical, separating elements are what make cycle tracks comfortable for a broad range of bicyclists. Below are examples of vertical elements that can be utilized to create a physical barrier, as well as the design guidelines associated with each form of separation. The selection of separation type should be based on the presence of on-street parking, overall street and right-of-way width, traffic speeds and volumes, emergency and service vehicle access, and maintenance.