Revising the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities

The AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities has been put to widespread use by public agencies and consultants in planning and designing bikeways, highways, and streets. Usage of the Guide has grown rapidly as more bikeway projects have been funded and developed following the passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) in 1991. Despite its popularity and utility, the Guide lacks some important information, and the current content needs updating. Additionally, parts of the Guide need to incorporate changes from updated national references such as the "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices" (MUTCD) and the AASHTO "Policy On Geometric Design of Highways and Streets," (AASHTO "Green Book") and from pertinent research reports on specific bicycle topics. Because of the shortcomings of the guide, many current decisions affecting the planning and design of bicycle ways are not based on research, recommended practices, or the collective knowledge of professionals. In 2004, NCHRP Project 20-7 (187) "Updating the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities" conducted initial research, interviews, and a literature review to determine the recommended scope and content of the next edition of the AASHTO "Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities." That report made recommendations for numerous new and revised topics to be covered in the guide. Revision of the Guide should generally follow the proposed outline prepared under NCHRP Project 20-7(187). Expansion of the Guide is recommended within the existing chapters on shared roadways, bicycle lanes, and paths. The outline recommends new chapters on planning, bicycle operation and safety, maintenance, bicycle parking, and bicycle linkages to transit. Additional guidance is recommended for intersection design affecting all bikeway types, bicyclist performance attributes, and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance on shared-use paths. The objective of the study is to revise and/or update all aspects of the current 1999 Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities. This revision should generally follow an outline prepared under NCHRP Project 20-7(187) which involves updating current information and adding additional guidance. The outline calls for new chapters on planning, bicycle operation and safety, maintenance, bicycle parking, and bicycle linkages to transit. Significant expansion of the guide is being called for within the existing chapters on shared roadways, bike lanes, and paths. Significant guidance is recommended for intersection design affecting all bikeway types, bicyclist performance attributes, and ADA compliance on shared-use paths.

Record URL:

Language

English

Project

Status: Completed
Funding: $250000.00
Contract Numbers:
Project 15-37
Sponsor Organizations:
Federal Highway Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

444 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001

National Cooperative Highway Research Program

Transportation Research Board
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001
Project Managers:
Hedges, Christopher
Performing Organizations:
Toole Design Group

,
Principal Investigators:
Toole, Jennifer
Start Date: 20070312
Expected Completion Date: 0
Actual Completion Date: 20100301
Source Data: RiP Project 11822

Subject/Index Terms

TRT Terms: Bicycle facilities; Bicycle lanes; Bicycle lanes; Bicycle travel; Design; Manuals; Safety
Identifier Terms: National Cooperative Highway Research Program
Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

Accession Number: 01462932
Record Type: Research project
Source Agency: National Cooperative Highway Research Program
Contract Numbers: Project 15-37
Files: RIP, USDOT
Created Date: Jan 3 2013 2:13PM