1

Lessons Learned from

Cycle Tracks (Class IV

Bikeways) Design

Practice

By: Min Zhou, P.E.,

Principal/Vice President

KOA Corporation

TYPICAL BIKEWAY CLASSIFICATION

CLASS I CLASS II CLASS III

2

What is a Cycle Track (Class IV)

3

BIKE BOULEVARD

• Shared roads with some preferential treatment for bicycles

• Traffic calming

• Quieter and more attractive

Pasadena Pasadena

Long Beach Vista Street Bike Boulevard

Green Street, Seattle

What is a Cycle Track (Class IV)

What is a Cycle Track (Class IV)

4

Cycle tracks are bikeways located in roadway right-of-way but separated from vehicle lanes by physical barriers

Class IV - California

Legislature Approval

Exclusive Bike Facility

On-Street

Infrastructure

Physically Separated

from Motor Traffic

and from Pedestrian

Differ from Buffered

Lanes

Differ from Class I

Bikeway

Level of Traffic Stress

Cycle Track

Why Cycle Track? Who are We Planning For?

5

Cycle Tracks – Current Practice Summary

6

Project Features Long Beach New York City Washington D.C. Portland,

Oregon San Francisco

Left-Side Parking Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Buffer Zone Yes Yes No Yes Yes

Bollards/Berm Berm Bollards Bollards No No

Bike Signals Yes Yes No No No

Bike Boxes No No No Yes No

Contraflow? No No Yes No No

Reduced Traffic Lanes Yes Yes Yes Yes No

Traffic Calming Effect Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Pedestrian Safety

Improvements No Yes No No No

Streetscape Elements Yes Yes Yes No No

Bike Lane Left/Right Side Left Left Left Right Right

Boulder, CO

San Diego, CA

Chula Vista, CA

Santa Cruz, CA

Design Features:

Cycle Track Width

Type of Separators

Driveway Conflict

Lost of Parking Spaces

Intersection Treatments

Bike Signals

Signage

Pvement Marking

ADA

Drainages

Cycle Tracks – No Caltrans Design Guide Yet!

7

8’ Parking Lane

Raised Berm

Added Bike Signal

One-Way 9’

Protected

Bikeway

5’ Buffer Zone

Sidewalk

Two 11’ Vehicle

Lanes

One Way Cycle Track – 3rd & Broadway, Long Beach

8

APWA 2012 B.E.S.T. Award

1.2 miles of Cycle Tracks

for Two One-way Streets

First Cycle Track

Implemented In SoCal

Cycle Tracks – Existing Cycle Track

3rd & Broadway, Long Beach

Left turn signals delay

Cyclist cannot

back track

Delivery Trucks

Weaving

Parking

ADA

Drainage

3rd and Broadway– Issues

10

Existing Typical Plan View

Alternative 1: Contra-Flow Typical Plan View

Alternative 2: Two-Way Cycle Track Typical Plan View

Cycle Tracks – Left-turn Conflicts & Sight Distance

Cycle Tracks – One Way Cycle Track

Cycle Tracks – Contra Flow

Cycle Tracks – Two Way Cycle Track

• Separate Bike/Ped and left turn phases

• Bikes approach

from behind turning vehicles

Bikes and pedestrians receive red light

Bike Left-Turn

Ped

LANE

BIKE

Bike Left-Turn

Ped

LANE

BIKE

Thru lane

Thru lane

Left turners receive red light

Cycle Tracks – Left-turn Conflicts & Sight Distance

Thru lane

• Oncoming bicyclists are more visible to drivers turning left

• Flashing yellow arrow signal provides a cue to motorists to be vigilant

• Decreased delay time for

pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists

Flashing yellow left arrow during bike & ped phase

Bike Left-Turn

Ped

LANE

BIKE

Cycle Tracks – Left-turn Conflicts & Sight Distance

Left-Turn

Thru lane

• Separate Bike/Ped and left turn phases

• Oncoming bikes are

more visible to drivers turning left, but bikes also approach from behind turning vehicles

Bike Ped Bike Ped Left-Turn

Thru lane

Bikes and pedestrians receive red light

Left turners receive red light

Cycle Tracks – Left-turn Conflicts & Sight Distance

2nd Cycle Track Implemented in Southern California

America’s 10 Best New Bike Lanes of 2014, Award by People for Bikes

Rosemead Blvd Cycle Track, Temple City

18

Lost of Parking Spaces

Avoid Right Hook Collisions

Rosemead Blvd Cycle Track, Temple City

19

Separated facilities for casual

riders, pedestrians, & fearless

riders;

Lower vehicle speed;

ADA compliance and signal

modification

Existing Class II bike facilities on El Camino

Real will be replaced by a combination of Class

IV and II facilities along this well-used section of

the Pacific Coast Highway

El Camino Real Two Way Cycle Track Design,

San Clemente

20

Orange Grove Blvd from

Green St to Wilson Ave (2.5 Mile)

21

Peak

Hour

Volume

(Veh)

Vehicular

Capacity

(Veh/Hr)

Traffic

Lanes

Daily

Hours

Over

Capacity Parking

Parking

Spaces

Parking

Loss Cost

Existing 1,310 3,200 4 0 Both

Sides 248 N/A N/A

Cycle Track 1,310 1,600 2 *0* Both

Sides 62 186 $1,779,000

Buffered Bike

Lane 1,310 1,600 2 *0*

Both

Sides 248 0 $217,000

* Thru traffic will be blocked by left turns.

(No two-way left turn lane)

Cycle Track Concept Design, Pasadena

El Centro Street Cycle Track, South Pasadena

22

Existing Parking

Count 130

Proposed Parking

Count 62

Percent of Parking

Lost 52%

Santa Ana Downtown Complete Streets

23

Cycle Track runs in the center of the street

on Santa Ana Blvd

Intersection Complication

Avoid Conflict with Street Car

Recap: Lesson learned from Cycle Track Design

Practice

Choose between cycle track,

buffered lanes, and bike

boulevard

Driveways

Intersections

Lost of parking spaces

Traffic capacity reduction

ADA issues with parking