Bicycles

Bicycles and other forms of micromobility are an affordable, healthy, safe and low impact way to travel. Providing people with the option of getting around by bike is a cost effective way of improving public health, reducing congestion, improving quality of life, affordability, and learning outcomes for children in school among other things. Best practices around the construction of bicycle facilities in North America has been rapidly evolving as cities and states continue to improve older designs, experiment with new ones, and adapt international strategies. This page aims to document current best practices in a simple, easy to understand format, while still allowing space for extensive discussion about known advantages and disadvantages of various designs.

Designers should strive to create roadways that are safe for all ages and abilities (AA&A) using any type of micromobility device. From young children heading to their friend's house to seniors visiting the doctor — from upright city bikes to fat tire ebikes — every road user should be safe and comfortable getting where they need to go.

Bikeway Facility Types

There are countless feasible designs for AA&A bicycle facilities, but most fall into one of the following categories:

Paths

Dedicated car-free bikeway, often shared with pedestrians.

Separated Bike Lanes

Dedicated lanes separated from motor vehicles by a vertical barrier.

Constrained Bike Lanes

The traditional North American 'bike lane'. These are generally not recommended unless there are right-of-way constraints or the project is repurposing existing pavement.

Advisory Bike Lanes

Rare in North America - a compact design that can be used on roadways where management strategies ensure low speeds and traffic volumes.

Bike Boulevard

Roadway configuration in which the entire road functions as a bike path. Requires management of vehicle speeds and volumes. Best for when a bike route is routed down an urban or suburban street, and there isn't enough space for safe separated bike lanes.

Shared Space

Most urban and suburban streets.

Deficient Bicycle Facilities

May older designs for bicycle facilities are no longer recommended because they do not effectively and safely serve users of all ages and abilities. Some of these designs are listed here:

Sharrows

Road marking showing where bicycles are supposed to ride on the road. These have been extensively used on roads that are not AA&A compatible, but are fine as part of a bike boulevard or shared space design.

Bicycles on Sidewalks

Designing a roadway where bicycles are expected to use the sidewalk creates a multitude of conflicts and potential safety hazards. In cases where this is planned, the sidewalk can be upgraded to a multi-use path. It is always better to segregate micromobility users from pedestrians, however.