Risk Factors

Prediction of the expected safety performance of Rural two lanes highways

Roadway Segments
 Lane width
The nominal or base value of lane width of a bicycle lane should be no less than 1,22 m (4 feet)
with a recommended with of 1,83 m (6 feet). This width does not include the road gutter section.
If the road lane and the bicycle lane are placed together, the width of the combined lanes should
be no greater than 4,27 m (14 feet). Lanes greater than that tend to imply a second travel lane to
drivers. Bicycle lanes are to be located on both sides of the road on two-way streets.
 Bicycle lanes less than 0,92 m (3 feet) should not be marked as bicycle lanes. If there are rumble
strips on the shoulder the width/bicycle lane is recommended to be wider to allow for a
minimum of a 1,22 m (4-foot) bicycle lane.
 Shoulder width
Based on road’s context and conditions in adjacent lane: 1,22 m (4-ft) width is a minimum value
(typical), 1,52 m (5-ft) widths generally recommended. Additional width when motor vehicle
speeds > 22,3 m/s (50 mph).
 Shoulder type.
 Horizontal curves:
 length;
 radius;
 presence or absence of spiral transitions;
 superelevation.
 Grades.
 Driveway density.
 Two-way left-turn lanes.
 Passing lanes/short four-lane sections.
 Roadside design.

At-Grade Intersections
 Skew angle.
 Traffic control.
 Exclusive left-turn lanes.
 Exclusive right-turn lanes.
 Intersection sight distance

Existing and expected land use patterns and generators of bicycle traffic:
Land Use
 residential,
 business/commercial,
 mixed commercial/residential,
 industrial,
 recreational,
 educational,
 agricultural
 open space.

Specific bicycle traffic generators

  major employment centers,
 schools,
 parks,
 shopping centers,
 residential neighborhoods,
 medical centers,
 colleges and universities,
 bus stops,
 transit stations,
 recreation areas

Existing and anticipated bicyclist characteristics:

Bicyclist use
 weather conditions,
 time of day,
 holidays,
 school schedules and similar factors should be considered and noted when taking
counts or characterizing use (i.e. infrequent, occasional, frequent, heavy, etc.).

User groups -i.e. commuters, students, children, adolescents, tourists

Trip purpose
 Utilitarian (shopping/errands; commuting to work, school or place of recreation)
 recreational (visiting friends; neighborhood riding; or touring.)

Frequency of use
 daily,
 week-ends,
 seasonal (as in tourist areas)

Existing site accommodations and characteristics:

 The location of existing bicycle facilities, shoulders and worn paths.
 The location of incomplete bicycle facilities that adjoin or are located within the right-
of-way.
 Existing bicycle facility signs.
 The physical condition of the existing bicycle facilities.
 Any site constraints or structural features that enhance or reduce feasibility of
constructing bicycle facilities.
 Existing right-of-way and availability of right-of-way.
 Existing parking facilities, surface conditions, drainage, pavement markings, street
lighting, and signage

Bicyclist accident history

Definitions
Bicycle facilities -A general term denoting improvements and provisions made by
public agencies to accommodate or encourage bicycling. These include bicycle parking
facilities and shared roadways.
Bicycle lane -A portion of a roadway which has been designated by striping,
pavement markings and signing for the preferential use of bicyclists. 1,2 m minim and 1,5 m
minimum with curb if it is q bike lane. 1,5 m minimum if it is a bike lane with on-street parking
Bicycle path -A path that is physically separated from motor vehicle traffic by an open space
or barrier and may be in the highway right-of-way or an independent right-of-way.
Bicycle route -A system or network of roads, streets, paths or ways that are open to
bicycle travel and that have been designated by the jurisdiction(s) having authority
with appropriate directional and informational route markers (with or without a specific
bicycle route number). Established bicycle routes should provide for continuous routing
between logical termini.
Shared roadway -A roadway which may or may not be designated and marked as a
bicycle route, but which is open to both bicycle and motor vehicle travel and upon which no
bicycle lane is designated. Examples may include roads with wide curb lanes and roads with
shoulders.
Wide curb lane -The right-most through traffic lane that has a minimum usable width of 3.6
m; A wide curb lane (WCL) is the lane nearest the curb that is wider than a standard lane
and provides extra space so that the lane may be shared by motor vehicles and bicycles.
Wide Curb Lane with On-Street Parking Minimum width lane is 6,6 m