Bicycle transportation engineering

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John Forester's book on Bicycle Transportation Engineering

Bicycle transportation engineering is the study of transportation engineering as it affects bicycling.

Contents

1 Roads

1.1 Wide Outside Lane (WOL)
1.2 Traffic lights
1.3 Road surface

2 Bikeways

2.1 Sidepath
2.2 Designated bicycle lane
2.3 Bike path

3 Parking
4 See also

Roads

Wide Outside Lane (WOL)

See: Wide outside lane.

Traffic lights

There are two major issues transportation engineers need to take into account for bicycling: Intersection Clearance times and Bicycle detection at demand-actuated traffic signals.

Road surface

Road surface is more important for bicycles than other modes of transportation for both comfort and safety. The type and placement of storm drains, manholes, surface markings (paint), and the general road surface quality should all be taken into account by a bicycle transportation engineer.

Bikeways

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the design of bikeways, or segregated cycle facilities.

Sidepath

Sidepaths are similar to a bike lane but have a physical barrier between the main roadway and the bicycles.

Sidepaths are used extensively in Amsterdam and in Danish cities, and this fact is often used to show that sidepaths can be used effectively. However the sidepaths in Amsterdam are a very special case for several reasons. There are more bicycles than cars in Amsterdam; almost all of these bicycles are of a similar type and operate at a similar speed; and pedestrians do not share these sidepaths.

Designated bicycle lane

A designated bicycle lane, according to the 1998 MUTCD, is:

a portion of a roadway or shoulder which has been designated for use by bicyclists
marked by a white (usually solid) stripe painted on the pavement
significantly narrower than traffic lanes
found at the side of the traffic lanes

There is significant controversy surrounding the efficacy of designated bicycle lanes.

Bike path

There are two distinct types of bike paths: those used exclusively by bicycles and those shared with pedestrians. In the United States almost all bikepaths are shared with pedestrians.

Bike paths are often found on old railroad right-of-ways.

Parking

Efficient two tiered Dutch Bicycle Rack

Bicycle parking is another important part of Bicycle Transportation Engineering. In the United States most bicycle parking facilities are missing or so inadequate that nearby trees or parking meters are used. The hitching post type of bicycle rack is an improvement over the old type that had a slot for the front wheel but only allow for two bicycles per post. In Amsterdam, where there are a very large number of bicycles, they use a two tiered bicycle rack that gives high density (the handlebars overlap) and safety (the bicycle is held well and is easy to lock).