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HIGHWAY DESIGN MANUAL 1000-1

June 26, 2006

CHAPTER 1000BIKEWAY PLANNING ANDDESIGN

Topic 1001 - General Criteria

Index 1001.1 - Introduction

The needs of non-motorized transportation are anessential part of all highway projects. Topic 105discusses Pedestrian Facilities with Index 105.3addressing accessibility needs. This chapterdiscusses bicycle travel. All city, county, regionaland other local agencies responsible for bikeways orroads where bicycle travel is permitted must followthe minimum bicycle planning and design criteriacontained in this and other chapters of this manual(See Streets and Highways Code Section 891).Bicycle travel can be enhanced by improvedmaintenance and by upgrading existing roads usedregularly by bicyclists, regardless of whether or notbikeways are designated. This effort requiresincreased attention to the right-hand portion of roadways where bicyclists are expected to ride. Onnew construction, and major reconstruction projects,adequate width should be provided to permit shareduse by motorists and bicyclists. On resurfacingprojects, it is important to provide a uniform surfacefor bicyclists and pedestrians. See Index 625.1(1)and 635.1(1) for guidance in accommodatingbicyclist and pedestrian needs on resurfacingprojects.

When adding lanes or turn pockets, aminimum 1.2 m shoulder shall be provided (seeTopic 405 and Table 302.1).

When feasible, awider shoulder should be considered. When placinga roadway edge line, sufficient room outside the lineshould be provided for bicyclists. Whenconsidering the restriping of roadways for moretraffic lanes, the impact on bicycle travel should beassessed. Bicycle and pedestrian traffic throughconstruction zones should be addressed in theproject development process. These efforts, topreserve or improve an area for use by bicyclists,can enhance motorist and bicyclist safety andmobility.

1001.2 The Role of Bikeways

Bikeways are one element of an effort to improvebicycling safety and convenience - either to helpaccommodate motor vehicle and bicycle traffic onshared roadways, or to complement the road systemto meet needs not adequately met by roads.Off-street bikeways in exclusive corridors can beeffective in providing new recreationalopportunities, or in some instances, desirablecommuter routes. They can also be used to closegaps where barriers exist to bicycle travel (e.g., rivercrossing). On-street bikeways can serve to enhancesafety and convenience, especially if othercommitments are made in conjunction withestablishment of bikeways, such as: elimination of parking or increasing roadway width, elimination of surface irregularities and roadway obstacles,frequent street sweeping, establishing intersectionpriority on the bike route street as compared withthe majority of cross streets, and installation of bicycle-sensitive loop detectors at signalizedintersections.

1001.3 The Decision to Develop Bikeways

The decision to develop bikeways should be madewith the knowledge that bikeways are not thesolution to all bicycle-related problems. Many of the common problems are related to improperbicyclist and motorist behavior and can only becorrected through effective education andenforcement programs. The development of wellconceived bikeways can have a positive effect onbicyclist and motorist behavior. Conversely, poorlyconceived bikeways can be counterproductive toeducation and enforcement programs.

1001.4 Definitions

The Streets and Highway Code Section 890.4defines a "Bikeway" as a facility that is providedprimarily for bicycle travel.(1) Class I Bikeway (Bike Path). Provides acompletely separated right of way for theexclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians withcrossflow by motorists minimized.(2) Class II Bikeway (Bike Lane). Provides astriped lane for one-way bike travel on a streetor highway.

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HIGHWAY DESIGN MANUAL

June 26, 2006

(3) Class III Bikeway (Bike Route). Provides forshared use with pedestrian or motor vehicletraffic.

1001.5 Streets and Highways CodeReferences - Chapter 8 - NonmotorizedTransportation

(a) Section 887 -- Definition of nonmotorizedfacility.(b) Section 887.6 -- Agreements with localagencies to construct and maintainnonmotorized facilities.(c) Section 887.8 -- Payment for constructionand maintenance of nonmotorized facilitiesapproximately paralleling State highways.(d) Section 888 -- Severance of existing majornonmotorized route by freewayconstruction.(e) Section 888.2 -- Incorporation of non-motorized facilities in the design of freeways.(f) Section 888.4 -- Requires Caltrans to budgetnot less than $360,000 annually fornonmotorized facilities used in conjunctionwith the State highway system.(g) Section 890.4 -- Class I, II, and III bikewaydefinitions.(h) Section 890.6 - 890.8 -- Caltrans and localagencies to develop design criteria andsymbols for signs, markers, and trafficcontrol devices for bikeways and roadwayswhere bicycle travel is permitted.(i) Section 891 -- Local agencies must complywith design criteria and uniform symbols.(j) Section 892 -- Use of abandoned right-of-way as a nonmotorized facility.

1001.6 Vehicle Code References - BicycleOperation

(a) Section 21200 -- Bicyclist's rights andresponsibilities for traveling on highways.(b) Section 21202 -- Bicyclist's position onroadways when traveling slower than thenormal traffic speed.(c) Section 21206 -- Allows local agencies toregulate operation of bicycles on pedestrianor bicycle facilities.(d) Section 21207 -- Allows local agencies toestablish bike lanes on non-state highways.(e) Section 21207.5 -- Prohibits motorizedbicycles on bike paths or bike lanes.(f) Section 21208 -- Specifies permittedmovements by bicyclists from bike lanes.(g) Section 21209 -- Specifies permittedmovements by motorists in bike lanes.(h) Section 21210 -- Prohibits bicycle parkingon sidewalks unless pedestrians have anadequate path.(i) Section 21211 -- Prohibits impeding orobstruction of bicyclists on bike paths.(j) Section 21717 -- Requires a motorist todrive in a bike lane prior to making a turn.(k) Section 21960 -- Use of freeways bybicyclists.

Topic 1002 - Bikeway Facilities

1002.1 Selection of the Type of Facility

The type of facility to select in meeting the bicycleneed is dependent on many factors, but thefollowing applications are the most common foreach type.

(1) Shared Roadway (No Bikeway Designation)

.Most bicycle travel in the State now occurs onstreets and highways without bikewaydesignations. This probably will be true in thefuture as well. In some instances, entire streetsystems may be fully adequate for safe andefficient bicycle travel, and signing and

HIGHWAY DESIGN MANUAL 1000-3

June 26, 2006

pavement marking for bicycle use may beunnecessary. In other cases, prior to designationas a bikeway, routes may need improvementsfor bicycle travel.Many rural highways are used by touringbicyclists for intercity and recreational travel. Itmight be inappropriate to designate thehighways as bikeways because of the limiteduse and the lack of continuity with other bikeroutes. However, the development andmaintenance of 1.2 m paved roadway shoulderswith a standard 100 mm edge line cansignificantly improve the safety andconvenience for bicyclists and motorists alongsuch routes.

(2) Class I Bikeway (Bike Path)

. Generally, bikepaths should be used to serve corridors notserved by streets and highways or where wideright of way exists, permitting such facilities tobe constructed away from the influence of parallel streets. Bike paths should offeropportunities not provided by the road system.They can either provide a recreationalopportunity, or in some instances, can serve asdirect high-speed commute routes if cross flowby motor vehicles and pedestrian conflicts canbe minimized. The most common applicationsare along rivers, ocean fronts, canals, utilityright of way, abandoned railroad right of way,within college campuses, or within and betweenparks. There may also be situations where suchfacilities can be provided as part of planneddevelopments. Another common application of Class I facilities is to close gaps to bicycle travelcaused by construction of freeways or becauseof the existence of natural barriers (rivers,mountains, etc.).

(3) Class II Bikeway (Bike Lane)

. Bike lanes areestablished along streets in corridors wherethere is significant bicycle demand, and wherethere are distinct needs that can be served bythem. The purpose should be to improveconditions for bicyclists in the corridors. Bikelanes are intended to delineate the right of wayassigned to bicyclists and motorists and toprovide for more predictable movements byeach. But a more important reason forconstructing bike lanes is to betteraccommodate bicyclists through corridorswhere insufficient room exists for safe bicyclingon existing streets. This can be accomplishedby reducing the number of lanes, reducing lanewidth, or prohibiting parking on given streets inorder to delineate bike lanes. In addition, otherthings can be done on bike lane streets toimprove the situation for bicyclists, that mightnot be possible on all streets (e.g.,improvements to the surface, augmentedsweeping programs, special signal facilities,etc.). Generally, pavement markings alone willnot measurably enhance bicycling.If bicycle travel is to be controlled bydelineation, special efforts should be made toassure that high levels of service are providedwith these lanes.In selecting appropriate streets for bike lanes,location criteria discussed in the next sectionshould be considered.

(4) Class III Bikeway (Bike Route)

. Bike routes areshared facilities which serve either to:(a) Provide continuity to other bicycle facilities(usually Class II bikeways); or(b) Designate preferred routes through highdemand corridors.As with bike lanes, designation of bike routesshould indicate to bicyclists that there areparticular advantages to using these routes ascompared with alternative routes. This meansthat responsible agencies have taken actions toassure that these routes are suitable as sharedroutes and will be maintained in a mannerconsistent with the needs of bicyclists.Normally, bike routes are shared with motorvehicles. The use of sidewalks as Class IIIbikeways is strongly discouraged.It is emphasized that the designation of bikeways as Class I, II and III should not beconstrued as a hierarchy of bikeways; that one isbetter than the other. Each class of bikeway hasits appropriate application.In selecting the proper facility, an overridingconcern is to assure that the proposed facilitywill not encourage or require bicyclists or