1. CYCLETRACKS!
Great City
July 22, 2010

2. Agenda
1. What are they?
2. Why are they controversial?
3. Why consider them?
4. How do you design one?
5. Q&A/Discussion

3. Safety & Mobility
Our decision to introduce these improvements along
Broadway and ultimately make them permanent were
inspired by two key factors: better mobility and greater
safety.
‐Mayor Bloomberg

4. What’s This?

5. What’s This?

6. What’s This?

7. What’s This?

8. What’s This?

9. What’s This?

10. New York City
9th Avenue, Manhattan
Kent Avenue, Brooklyn

11. New York City
Sands Street, Brooklyn Grand Street, Manhattan
Tillary Street, Brooklyn Allen Street Mall, Manhattan

12. Portland, OR
SW Broadway

13. Portland, OR

14. Cambridge, MA
Vassar Street – MIT Campus

15. Washington DC
15th Street NW - conceptual plan

16. Vancouver, BC
Carrall Street Greenway

17. Dunsmuir Street

18. Montreal, Quebec
Boulevard Maisonneuve

19. North American Cycle Tracks
Location Lane Width Direction Buffer Type
9th Ave, NYC 10’ One‐way 15’ combined raised landscaped
pedestrian refuge & vehicle parking
Kent Ave, NYC 8’ (4’ each Two‐way 3’‐4’ painted buffer
direction)
Cambridge, MA N/A One‐way Raised bikeway
Washington DC 9’ (4.5’ each Two‐way 1’ raised buffer
direction)
Vancouver 6.5’ One‐way Raised bikeway
Montreal N/A Two‐way N/A
Dutch CROW 6.5’‐13’ Depends on Minimum buffer: 1’‐3’
Manual Standards depending on destinations Landscaping or parking: 7’‐8’
bike volumes & access Approaching intersection: <1’

20. Agenda
1. What are they?
2. Why are they controversial?
3. Why consider them?
4. How do you design one?
5. Q&A/Discussion

21. What’s Not to Like?

22. History of Danish Cycle tracks
• German highway and
political influence
• Separation of bikes
from traffic part of
effort to invigorate
German economy
• Adopted to varying
degrees by occupied
nations during WWII

23. A culture of cycling or of convenience?

24. Obedience & Culture
• Danish system demands
compliance and
obediance
• Part of Danish Psyche –
Jante’s Law

25. Other Users
• Pedestrians
• Transit

26. Two Straights Make a Left…
Two Signal Cycles MINIMUM to turn left,
with or without cycletracks

27. The Copenhagen Two‐Step

28. Compensating for Right Hooks
• CPH understands there
is a problem
• Heavy enforcement of
“Copenhagen Two‐
Step”
• Technology Fixes
– Advance Lights
– Stop Boxes
– Pavement Lights

29. Of speed and function…
How would Elmira Gulch do
on the Green Wave?

30. Perceived Safety vs. Real
• 18% increase in bicycle
injury incidents
• 22% increase in bike
collisions at
intersections
• 28% increase in ped
injuries at intersections
YET
• 80% believe they are
safer on cycletracks

31. Potential Operational/Safety Challenges with
Separated Bikeways ‐ Midblock
Limited ROW:
Narrow and in
Door Zone
Red Light
Running,
Wrong Way
Riding
Pedestrian Usage

32. Potential Operational/Safety Challenges with
Separated Bikeways ‐ Intersection
Multiple Unexpected Conflict Points, Sightline Degradation

33. Agenda
1. What are they?
2. Why are they controversial?
3. Why consider them?
4. How do you design one?
5. Q&A/Discussion

34. Bicycle Planning Trends:
Roger Geller’s Four Types of Bicyclists
Fast & Fearless ‐
1%>
Interested but Concerned – 60% No Way, No How – 33%
Enthused &
Confident – 7%

35. Fast & Fearless
1. Bicycling is a key part of
identity
2. Interested in wide lanes,
bike‐sensitive loop
detectors, driver/cyclist
education
3. Strong allies for education

36. Enthused & Confident
1. Like to “bike their
politics”
2. Interested in bicycle lanes
and boulevards, bicycle
culture
3. Strong allies for on‐street
bikeways

37. Interested but Concerned
1. Enjoy recreational riding
but safety fears prevent
riding more often
2. Interested in cycletracks,
trails, and sidepaths
3. Strong allies for off‐street
bikeways

38. Moral of the Story: We have spent much of our
time planning for 7‐8% of riders
Fast & Fearless ‐
1%>
Interested but Concerned – 60% No Way, No How – 33%
Enthused &
Confident – 7%

39. Scoreboard, Baby!

40. Why: Roadway Obstructions in Urban Areas
On Road Bikeway Obstructions
New York City

41. Why: Continuity of Pathway Experience
Continuity of Pathway Experience
Vancouver, BC

42. Why: Bike‐Transit Integration
On‐street Bike
Network
Last Mile – Signage &
Bike Share Wayfinding
On‐board Secure Bike
accommodation Parking

43. Why: We’re doing them already
Geographic Location of Separated Bikeways
Total Coverage:
• 45 states
• 5 provinces
Highest Coverage
(# cities):
• California – 37
• Florida – 13
• Washington – 13
• Ontario – 10

44. Initial Survey Results
What is your opinion on separated bikeways?
250
Preferable to on-road
200 55% facilities and should
be installed where
possible
150 43% Appropriate only in
limited circumstances
100
Never appropriate
50
2%
0

45. Initial Survey Results
How important a role do you think separated bikeways have or
could have in making cycling more mainstream and popular?
250 50%
200
Critical
Important
150
24% Neutral
19% Not Important
100
Detrimental
50 4% 3%
0

46. Initial Survey Results
Should separated bikeways be included in design manuals in the
US and Canada?
65%
300
250
Yes
200 Yes, with
proper criteria
150 Maybe
21%
100 Probably not
10%
Absolutely not
50 3% 1%
0

47. Why: Prevention of Poor Design

48. Agenda
1. What are they?
2. Why are they controversial?
3. Why consider them?
4. How do you design one?
5. Q&A/Discussion

49. Facility Elements
Segment Driveways Intersections
Lane Width Visibility Visibility
Slowing Slowing
Buffer Width
Vehicle Vehicle
& Type
Speed Speed
One‐way or Turning
Auto Access
two‐way lane Movements

50. Segment Considerations
Transit route Minimize
Context
Treatment
Bicycle volumes pedestrian/passenger
conflicts
Vehicle volumes & speeds
Lane width
On‐street parking
Buffer type
Connections to bikeway
network & access to Swap lane for parking, remove
destinations on‐street parking
One‐ or two‐way lane

51. Two‐way Bike Lane
• Washington DC
• NYC Examples
Hudson Greenway, Manhattan
Tillary Street, Brooklyn
Kent Avenue, Brooklyn
Image Source: NYCDOT & Neal Patel

52. Buffer Types
$ Striped, painted buffer
$$ Raised concrete barrier
$$$ Planted median refuge
$$$$ Stylized landscaping
Image Source: NYCDOT

53. Intersection Considerations
Controlled vs. uncontrolled Signal phasing for turning vehicles
Context
Treatment
intersection or bikes
Connections to bikeway network Leading Interval
& access to destinations Daylighting or right‐turn pocket
On‐street parking (remove on‐street parking)
Visibility Advanced stop line for autos
Context – is this a place drivers Bring bike lane towards travel
will expect bicyclists? lanes
Turning movements Striping & signage
• Colored bike lane
• Stripe lane through intersection
Bike box or corral for 2‐legged
crossing

54. Intersection Treatments
Image Source: RBA Group & NYCDOT

56. Intersection Considerations
Queuing Bike Box
Treatment
Context Controlled vs. uncontrolled
intersection
Signal phasing for turning vehicles
or bikes
Turning movements Limit/prohibit left turns
Visibility Transition turning bikes into travel
Context – is this a place drivers lanes
will expect bicyclists? Striping & signage
• Colored bike lane
• Stripe lane through intersection

57. Bus Stop Considerations
Passenger boardings & Curbside bike lane routes
Treatment
Context
alightings behind bus stop/island
Bus headways Bike lane positioned btwn
Bike volumes autos & bus lane
Shared bus‐bike lane
w/Sharrow placement