AN INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON OF GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CYCLE

INFRASTRUCTURELouise Gustafsson

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

• 3-year project (2010-2012)• Funded by the Swedish Transport Administration

• The goal is to update and validate the current national guidelines for cycle infrastructure

• Accessibility and traffic safety study of the bicycle infrastructure in Stockholm 2009

• Special conditions during winter

• Maintenance vehicles need access

RESULTS OF THE STUDY

• Commuter cyclist• Mapping problems • Need for improvements

Problems in many cases due- to lack of appropriate design guidelines- existing design guidelines not good enough

DESIGN GUIDELINES IN SWEDEN

• VGU (The Design of Roads and Streets)• Municipalities – several local design manuals

• Part 1 – study of national and local guidelines• Part 2 – international comparison• Part 3 – field study to validate existing guidelines

INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON

• Denmark: Byernes trafikarealer: forudsaetninger for den geometriske udformning Idékatalog for cykeltrafik

• Netherlands: Design Manual for Bicycle Traffic• Norway: Sykkelhåndboka

Veg- og gateutformning• Germany: Richtlinien für die Anlage von Stadtstrassen • England: London Cycling Design Standards

Cycle Superhighways Design Guideance Cycle Infrastructure Design Manual for Streets Design Manual for Roads and Bridges

• USA: Guide for the development of Bicycle Facilities NYC Street Design Manual Bike Lane Design Guide Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Design Guidelines Highway Design Manual

RESULTS

Guidelines or required measures?

• ”lowest acceptable” • Sweden: the road designer decides• Norway: clear differences between accepted and

preferred • In several studied guidelines = not specified

Country

Cyclist regular Cargo bike Race bike

Length Width Height Length Width Height Length Width Height

VGU 2,0 0,75 1,9 - - - - - -

Byernes Trafikarealer

1,9–2,0 0,5-0,7 1,7 -2,1 2,0 0,9 1,7 -2,1 - - -

CROW 1,8–1,95 0,5-0,6 1,0 -1,2 1,7–2,2 0,6-0,7 - 1,7–1,9 0,45–0,6 1,0–1,2

Cycle Infrastructure Design

1,8 0,65 - - - - - - -

Manual for Streets

- 0,75 2,1 - - - - - -

AASHTO - 0,75 2,5 - - - - - -

Håndbok 017 1,8 0,75 1,9 - - - - - -

Sykkelhåndboka 1,8 0,6 2,25 - - - - - -

RASt - 0,8 2,25 - - - - - -

GRADIENT

AASHTO/Maryland

Recommended max 5 %

5-6 % max 240 m

7 % max 120 m

8 % max 90 m

9 % max 60 m

10 % max 30 m

>11 % max 15 m

Highway Design ManualRecommended max 2 %

Max 5 %

Sykkelhåndboka

Max 10 % 0-35 m

Max 7 % 35-100 m

Max 5 % 100-200 m

Max 3,5 % >200 m

RASt50 km/h max 8 %

70 km/h max 6 %

VGU

Depending on difference in levels

Max 8 % - low level

Max 4 % - good level

Idékatalog for cykeltrafik

50 ‰ max 50 m

45 ‰ max 100 m

40 ‰ max 200 m

35 ‰ max 300 m

30 ‰ max 500 m

CROWGreater difference in height 5 m possibility to rest after 25 m required.

Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Max 3 %

Cycle Infrastructure DesignMax 3 %

Up to 5 % <100 m

Manual for Streets 3-5 % < 100 m, max 7 % <30 m

SIGHT DISTANCE

• AASHTO – national guidelines in USA– Based on gradient, e.g.

• 0 % gradient + Speed 20 km/h = 20 m sight distance required

• Sykkelhåndboka – national guidelines in Norway- Downhill slope = Special guidelines

• CROW - Netherland- Based on speed and slope- Sight distance while moving, when stopping and when

approaching another vehicle/cyclist

CYCLE PATHS

Idékatalog for cykeltrafikMin 1,7 m

Recommended 2,2 m

CROW

Cyclists only

0–50 c/h 2,00 m

150-750 c/h 3,00 m

>750 c/h 4,00 m

With mopeds

0-150 c/h 2,00 m

150-375 c/h 3,00 m

>375 c/h 4,00 m

Cycle Infrastructure Design Min 1,5 m

LCDS Min 2,0 m

Cycle Superhighway Design Guidance

Min 1,5 m

Recommended 2,00 m

Highway Design Manual Min 1,5 m

NYC Street Design ManualAlong roads 4,3 m

Along streets 2,4 m

RAStMin 1,60 m

Recommended 2,00 m

MEASURES AND VALUES

• Determine measures and values to adopt in Sweden

• Need to consider cycle culture and existing norms

• Guidelines – how to obtain enforcement?

CONCLUSION

• Need for improved guidelines for sight distance and alignment

• Capacity and flow of cyclist – dimensions– Netherland good example

• Requirement or recommendation? – Need to specify level of demand

• Sweden – only country without specific handbook for cyclist!

SUMMARY

- A research project 2010-2012- Updating and validating

existing guidelines- Proposal will include updated

guidelines- Best practice and influences

from other countries will be used

THANK YOU!

Louise GustafssonSweco Infrastructure

louise.gustafsson@sweco.se

Louise GustafssonSweco Infrastructure