BUFFERED BICYCLE LANE

Buffered bicycle lanes are on-street dedicated lanes for bicycle travel separated from motor vehicle traffic by a painted buffer. Buffered bicycle lanes may be one or two-way facilities and are intended for exclusive use by bicyclists. They should be provided in combination with sidewalks.

Benefits

Buffered bicycle lanes provide dedicated space for bicyclists, except near intersections where motorists and bicyclists may mix depending upon intersection design.

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Buffered lanes provide a space for bicyclists to pass other bicyclists without encroaching into the vehicle travel lane.

Compared to conventional bicycle lanes, buffered bicycle lanes provide greater distance between motor vehicles and bicyclists.

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Buffered bicycle lanes provide a wider space for bicycling without making the bicycle lane appear so wide that it might be mistaken for a travel lane or a parking lane.

Challenges

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Compared to conventional bicycle lanes and neighborhood bicycle routes, these facilities require additional right-of-way and/or street space.

Buffer striping requires additional time and materials for installation and maintenance. .

Unlike a cycle track, there is no physical barrier (bollard, raised curb, etc.) that restricts the encroachment of motor vehicles.

Considerations

Bicycle lane word and/or symbol and arrow markings must be used to define the buffered bicycle lane and designate that portion of the street for use by bicyclists. .

Where bicyclist volumes are high, bicycle speed differentials are significant, or where side by side riding is desired, the desired bicycle travel area width is 7 feet.

The bicycle lane buffer must be marked with 2 solid white lines. If the buffer is 3 feet or wider, diagonal hatching between the lines is required.

Buffered bicycle lanes that are too wide may be mistaken for general travel lanes. Therefore, 7 feet is the maximum recommended width for the rideable area.

Gutters should not be included in the rideable surface width, unless that width is incorporated into the full width of the bicycle lane to provide a smooth rideable surface with no longitudinal joints or seams parallel to the line of travel.

Intersection design should include a buffered bicycle lane design or visual cues to guide bicyclists on mixing with automobile traffic. Intersection design for through and turning bicycle traffic should be carefully considered. Intersection treatments can be found on pages 105 - 113

Dotted markings can be used to indicate the continuation of a buffered bicycle lane through an intersection.

Buffered bicycle lanes should not be placed adjacent to conventional front-in diagonal parking because drivers backing out of parking spaces have poor visibilty of bicyclists.

Buffered bicycle lanes can be retrofitted onto existing streets that have excess pavement.

Color may be used at the beginning of each block to discourage automobiles from entering the buffered bicycle lane.

Buffered bicycle lanes may sometimes be painted green, particularly where they cross intersections. This feature alerts motorists of the potential presence of bicycles and reduces the potential for collision. .

Buffered bicycle lanes are located on the vehicle travel lane side of on-street parking. On streets where the buffered bicycle lane is adjacent to on-street parking, an additional striped buffer area adjacent to the parking lane may be needed to protect bicyclists from dooring.

Design Guidelines

Buffered bicycle lanes 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: 6 feet preferred, 5 feet minimum. Where bicyclist volumes are high, bicyclist speed differentials are significant, or where side-by-side riding is desired, the desired bicycle travel area width is 7 feet.

BUFFER WIDTH: 3 feet or more preferred, 18 inches minimum .

SURFACE: Consistent with street pavement

VERTICAL CLEARANCE: 10 feet preferred, 8 feet minimum

HORIZONTAL CLEARANCE: 2 feet

DESIGN SPEED: 18mph

Buffered Bicycle Lane Cross Section