AN INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON OF GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR

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

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT • 3 -year project (2010 -2012) • 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: • • Netherlands: Norway: • • Germany: England: • USA: Byernes trafikarealer: forudsaetninger for den geometriske udformning Idékatalog for cykeltrafik Design Manual for Bicycle Traffic Sykkelhåndboka Veg- og gateutformning Richtlinien für die Anlage von Stadtstrassen London Cycling Design Standards Cycle Superhighways Design Guideance Cycle Infrastructure Design Manual for Streets Design Manual for Roads and Bridges 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

Cyclist regular Country Cargo bike Race bike Length Width Height 2, 0 0, 75 1, 9 - - - Byernes Trafikarea 1, 9– 2, 0 ler 0, 5 -0, 7 1, 7 -2, 1 2, 0 0, 9 1, 7 -2, 1 - - - CROW 0, 5 -0, 6 1, 0 -1, 2 1, 7– 2, 2 0, 6 -0, 7 - 1, 7– 1, 9 0, 45– 0, 6 1, 0– 1, 2 Cycle Infrastruct 1, 8 ure Design 0, 65 - - - - Manual for Streets - 0, 75 2, 1 - - - AASHTO - 0, 75 2, 5 - - - Håndbok 017 1, 8 0, 75 1, 9 - - - Sykkelhå ndboka 1, 8 0, 6 2, 25 - - - RASt - 0, 8 2, 25 - - - VGU 1, 8– 1, 95

GRADIENT VGU Depending on difference in levels Recommended max 5 % Max 8 % - low level 5 -6 % max 240 m Max 4 % - good level 7 % max 120 m AASHTO/Maryland Idékatalog for cykeltrafik 50 ‰ max 50 m 9 % max 60 m 45 ‰ max 100 m 10 % max 30 m 40 ‰ max 200 m >11 % max 15 m 35 ‰ max 300 m 30 ‰ max 500 m CROW Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Cycle Infrastructure Design Manual for Streets 8 % max 90 m Greater difference in height 5 m possibility to rest after 25 m required. Highway Design Manual Max 5 % Max 10 % 0 -35 m Sykkelhåndboka Max 3 % Max 7 % 35 -100 m Max 5 % 100 -200 m Max 3, 5 % >200 m Max 3 % Up to 5 % <100 m 3 -5 % < 100 m, max 7 % <30 m Recommended max 2 % RASt 50 km/h max 8 % 70 km/h max 6 %

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 CROW Min 1, 7 m Recommended 2, 2 m Cyclists only With mopeds 0– 50 c/h 2, 00 m 0 -150 c/h 2, 00 m 150 -750 c/h 3, 00 m 150 -375 c/h 3, 00 m >750 c/h 4, 00 m >375 c/h 4, 00 m Cycle Infrastructure Design Min 1, 5 m LCDS Min 2, 0 m Cycle Superhighway Design Guidance Min 1, 5 m Highway Design Manual Min 1, 5 m NYC Street Design Manual RASt Recommended 2, 00 m Along roads 4, 3 m Along streets 2, 4 m 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 2010 -2012 - 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. se

Louise Gustafsson Sweco Infrastructure