The Federal Highway Administration announced its new Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide.
What exactly is a “separated bike lane” (sometimes referred to as a “cycle track” or “protected bike lane”)? In simple terms, it’s a portion of a roadway for bicyclists that is physically separated from motor vehicle traffic.
These lanes are an important tool communities across the U.S. can use to build safe, comfortable, and connected networks of bicycle infrastructure that meet the needs of people of all ages and abilities.
FHWA’s guide outlines planning considerations and design options for this innovative bicycle facility. It provides information on one and two-way facilities, outlines different options for providing separation, and highlights midblock design considerations including driveways, transit stops, accessibility, and loading zones. Intersection design is also taken into consideration, including the related operations, signalization, signage, and on-road marking concerns.
Best of all, with the Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide, we’re providing communities with case studies highlighting notable practices and lessons learned across the country.
The Guide builds on our current policy to provide pedestrian and bicycle accommodations and on our support for design flexibility. It will inform U.S.DOT’s ongoing Safer People, Safer Streets initiative as well as our efforts to improve access to opportunity for everyone.
Connected and comfortable infrastructure that makes bicycling a viable transportation choice for more people is one strategy to meet the challenges outlined in our Beyond Traffic report. We invite you to take a look at the Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide and use it a resource to improve conditions for folks bicycling in your community.
