Bike lanes delineated with bollards or traffic cones are most likely to slow drivers and reduce crashes between cars and bikes.
A study of temporary bike lanes installed at an intersection in Asbury Park, New Jersey shows that both painted and delineated bike lanes (those separated with bollards) slow drivers and reduce the risk of collisions with people on bikes.
As Maylin Tu explains in Next City, “For the experiment, researchers temporarily removed nine parking spaces to create 6-foot wide bike lanes with a 3-foot buffer between bike and car travel lanes. Car travel lanes were reduced by at least one foot each, a decrease that has been shown to reduce crashes. In addition, the bike lanes created a sharper turning radius for drivers turning right, another intervention that might force drivers to slow down.”
Delineated lanes made the biggest impact. “For vehicles turning right, top speeds were reduced by 28% and average speeds by 21%. Paint-only bike lanes slowed driver speeds by up to 14% and drivers going straight slowed down by up to 8%.”
The study notes that pop-up, temporary bike lanes like the ones used in the research can help cities understand how bike lanes can improve road safety before making more permanent changes, but “In order to achieve Vision Zero initiatives, planners and policy makers should focus efforts on delineated bike lanes, not merely painted lanes.”
FULL STORY: How Bike Lanes Slow Drivers and Save Lives
Austin Outlaws Blocking Bike Lanes
Drivers who park in bike lanes will receive citations of up to $300.
How San Francisco’s ‘People Protected Bike Lanes’ are Moving the Needle on Road Safety
A local bike safety protest has become a global phenomenon.
NACTO Releases Updated Urban Bikeway Guide
The third edition of the nationally recognized road design guide includes detailed design advice for roads that prioritize safety and accessibility for all users.
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service