Sidewalk Bikeways: A Safety Problem, Not a Safety Solution

Basic Principles Operating any vehicle in traffic (whether on a roadway or a path) requires: Skills Knowledge Judgment

Basic Principles Knowledge Rules of the Road Defensive Driving Techniques Judgment Applying Knowledge and Skills to Existing Conditions

Skills for Cycling on Neighborhood Streets Starting Steering/Balance Braking Scanning Ahead Judging Speed of Other Vehicles Scanning Behind Without Swerving Driving One-Handed to Signal

Skills for Collector & Arterial Streets Starting Steering/Balance Braking Scanning Ahead Judging Speed of Other Vehicles Scanning Behind Without Swerving Driving One-Handed to Signal

Skills for Cycling on Sidepaths Starting Steering/Balance Braking Scanning Ahead Judging Speed of Other Vehicles Scanning Behind Without Swerving Simultaneously scanning ahead and behind Driving One-Handed to Signal

Which is Safer -- the Street or the Sidewalk? Relative Risk of Bicycle Facility Types Source: National Bicycle Commuter Survey, William Moritz, University of Washington, Seattle, Human Powered Transportation Program Higher Number Indicates Higher Risk of Bicyclist Crash with a Motorist

Problems with Sidewalk Bikeways Treat bicyclists as pedestrians – however, bicyclists are less maneuverable than pedestrians and therefore less able to deal with the conflicts experienced by pedestrians

Problems with Sidewalk Bikeways Require users to scan both ahead and behind at intersections Motorists more likely to block sidepaths than bike lanes or wide curb lanes

Problems with Sidewalk Bikeways Motorists must scan wider areas than they normally would Cyclists who choose to stay on the roadway will be harassed

The Skills Myth: “On-Road Cycling Requires More Skill than Sidepath Cycling” The scanning skills necessary for cycling on a sidepath are MORE COMPLEX than for cycling on the roadway

The Skills Myth: “On-Road Cycling Requires More Skill than Sidepath Cycling” The motorist’s side of the equation – sidepaths require motorists to scan for cyclists MORE THOROUGHLY than on- road facilities This often occurs at the same time and place where cyclists are required to conduct more complex scans

The Skills Myth: “On-Road Cycling Requires More Skill than Sidepath Cycling” For some conflicts, bicyclists on sidepaths must have BETTER braking or steering skills than if they were on the roadway

Conflicts on Unidirectional Sidepaths Compared to Conflicts on Roadways

Left Turns

Unidirectional Paths Are Not Unidirectional On multi-lane highways, cyclists with a destination a short distance away on the same side of the street will often avoid crossing the street by driving facing traffic

Unidirectional Paths Are Not Unidirectional A standard five-foot unidirectional path will not safely accommodate two cyclists approaching head-on Who will enforce it?

Right Turns

What are the Causes of the Most Serious Injuries? (Daytime)

What are the Causes of the Most Serious Injuries? (Nighttime)

A Choice: Greater Increase in Perceived Safety but with a Decrease in Real Safety (sidepath) or a Lesser Increase in Perceived Safety with an Increase in Real Safety (bike lane or wide curb lane)