AN INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON OF GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE Louise Gustafsson

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 3-year project ( ) 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 regularCargo bikeRace bike LengthWidthHeightLengthWidthHeightLengthWidthHeight VGU2,00,751, Byernes Trafikarea ler 1,9–2,00,5-0,71,7 -2,12,00,91,7 -2,1--- CROW1,8–1,950,5-0,61,0 -1,21,7–2,20,6-0,7-1,7–1,90,45–0,61,0–1,2 Cycle Infrastruct ure Design 1,80, Manual for Streets -0,752, AASHTO-0,752, Håndbok 017 1,80,751, Sykkelhå ndboka 1,80,62, RASt-0,82,

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 Manual Recommended max 2 % Max 5 % Sykkelhåndboka Max 10 % 0-35 m Max 7 % m Max 5 % m Max 3,5 % >200 m RASt 50 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 CROW Greater difference in height 5 m possibility to rest after 25 m required. Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Max 3 % Cycle Infrastructure Design Max 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 cykeltrafik Min 1,7 m Recommended 2,2 m CROW Cyclists only 0–50 c/h 2,00 m c/h 3,00 m >750 c/h 4,00 m With mopeds c/h 2,00 m c/h 3,00 m >375 c/h 4,00 m Cycle Infrastructure DesignMin 1,5 m LCDSMin 2,0 m Cycle Superhighway Design Guidance Min 1,5 m Recommended 2,00 m Highway Design ManualMin 1,5 m NYC Street Design Manual Along roads 4,3 m Along streets 2,4 m RASt Min 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 Updating and validating existing guidelines -Proposal will include updated guidelines -Best practice and influences from other countries will be used

THANK YOU! Louise Gustafsson Sweco Infrastructure

Louise Gustafsson Sweco Infrastructure