Technical Guide and Training for the Implementation of Best PracticesMarc Jolicoeur PE

Technical Guide1st edition 1990Bikeway standards committeeTransportation MinistryMunicipalitiesOther public organizationsVlo Qubec

Technical Guide1st edition 1990Bikeway standards committee2nd edition + English translation 1992Sold in 30 countries

Technical Guide1st edition 1990Bikeway standards committee2nd edition + English translation 1992Sold in 30 countries3rd edition 2003 (2ndEnglish edition)

Technical GuideContent adapted to different audiencesProfessionnalsPoliticiansAdvocates and general public

Technical GuideContentPlanningBasic conceptsInnovationsParking

PlanningLevelsLocalRegionalNational

PlanningLevelsElementsMobilityContinuitySafetyEtc.

PlanningLevelsElementsProcessIdentify needsExisting conditions Determine layout Feasibility

PlanningLevelsElementsProcessStrategiesRevitalizationBuild it and they will comeMissing linksRoad diet

Basic ConceptsPaved shoulders

Basic ConceptsPaved shoulders Bike lanes

Basic ConceptsPaved shoulders Bike lanes

Basic ConceptsPaved shoulders Bike lanesBidirectionnal lanesConcept withdrawned Bike lane = onewayOn road bike path can be 2-wayOnly illustrationleft: conflicts

Basic ConceptsPaved shoulders Bike lanesBidirectionnal lanesConcept withdrawned Bike lane = onewayOn road bike path can be 2-wayOnly illustrationleft: conflicts

Basic ConceptsPaved shoulders Bike lanesIntersections

InnovationsTraffic calming

InnovationsTraffic calming

InnovationsTraffic calmingBike boulevards

InnovationsTraffic calmingBike boulevardsColored surfacing

InnovationsTraffic calmingBike boulevardsColored surfacingContraflow bikeways

InnovationsTraffic calmingBike boulevardsColored surfacingContraflow bikeways

InnovationsTraffic calmingBike boulevardsColored surfacingContraflow bikeways

InnovationsTraffic calmingBike boulevardsColored surfacingContraflow bikewaysModern roundabouts

InnovationsTraffic calmingBike boulevardsColored surfacingContraflow bikewaysModern roundabouts Bike boxes

ParkingNeeds

ParkingNeeds

ParkingNeedsEquipmentsEssential functionsSupportTheft protection

ParkingNeedsEquipmentsEssential functionsUseful functionsWeather protectionVandalism protection

ParkingNeedsEquipmentsEssential functionsUseful functionsWeather protectionVandalism protection

ParkingNeedsEquipmentsEssential functionsUseful functionsWeather protectionVandalism protection

StandardsPartnership Vlo-Qubec / Transport Ministry

StandardsPartnership Vlo-Qubec / Transport MinistryRoad Construction Standards

StandardsPartnership Vlo-Qubec / Transport MinistrySign Standards

TrainingGoalsMake knowledge accessible Complement the Technical Handbook

TrainingContentIn class presentationField tripDevelopped fromTechnical HandbookRoute verte workshopsParticipants questions

TrainingAudienceEngineersPlannersPublic healthParks and recreationPoliticiansAdvocates

ConclusionGuide + Training = tools for best practices + better cycling environment

Merci !

www.velo.qc.camarc_jolicoeur@velo.qc.ca

I will focus on 4 aspects that are important for better practices.Planning should take into account the fact that bikeways can serve both for local, regional and national purpose.This generally doesnt affect the geometry, but can be of prime importance in route choice and for connectivity with services and destinations.Make sure that cyclists specific needs are taken into account. comfort is of prime importance for most cyclists and will impact levelof usage much more than real safetyefficiency means few stops and minimum grades; Explain the planning process to those who are not familiar with it.Give insight on different strategies that can be used to implement bicycle facilities.Explain basic concepts. This is very important to help convince shy people that on-road facilities are OKeffective cyclists that bike paths can be fun and useful for most persons

Remember that we design for the general population, not for a happy few with better knowledge or capacitiesThis is the famous 85 percentile used in many road standardsfor cars engineers are going further by designing rumble strips for those few that fall asleep at the wheel or loose control because they are fiddling for their cigarettes or cell phone,

for example, paved shoulders are great for all cyclists who are comfortable on the road, particularly on scenic roadsThe same with bike lanesstudy by University of North Carolina shows that bike lanes are effective: cyclists and drivers follow a more predictable path when they have separated lanes.I insist on this type of bikeway,because most engineers and plannersfear them, at least in Quebec where it is almost inexistenton the reverse, this has been done in many places in Quebec, where everyone wanted to do the same as Montreal, but forgot to separate cyclists from traffic by a median or delineator posts.previous edition of the Technical handbook explained the restrictions that applied to bidirectional bikeways on 2 way streets.But the dozen photos and illustrations of speecific treatments for bidirectionnal bikeways led to the construction of many such facilities.Intersections are hot spots: crossing paths create conflicts that have to be managed in order to insure safety.at worst,an overpass or a tunnel is needed, at a cost equivalent to many kilometers of bikeway!

Innovation is what is new for most of the population.In many places, traffic calming is still innovation.And even if it is mainstream it doesnt mean that it is not needed anymore!And we have to deal with reluctance to implement new designssome suburbs in Montreal put in speed humps without any problems while the next suburb wont because they see only problems with them.contraflow bikeways permit direct connections on streets where direct car traffic is prohibited for geomtric reasons (narrow street) or to minimize traffic inconvenience in residential neighborhoods. The same with median openings for peds and cyclistsagain many are reluctant to use colored surfacing,because it is more expensive, difficult to maintain in northern climate, etc.one experiment in Montreal in 1994 showed some benefit, even if it was carried without any information to the populationmany european countries use it extensively with great benefit for cyclistscontraflow bikeways permit direct connections on streets where direct car traffic is prohibited for geomtric reasons (narrow street) or to minimize traffic inconvenience in residential neighborhoods. The same with median openings for peds and cyclistsagain, europeans have gone further: in some german cities, contraflow riding is permitted on all streets in 30 zonesthe same is toleratyed in Montreal near McGill University campusagain, europeans have gone further: in some german cities, contraflow riding is permitted on all streets in 30 zonesthe same is toleratyed in Montreal near McGill University campusagain, something new. But engineers are falling in love with it!A full guidelines document was published in 2003 in Quebec, and courses have been developed to explain the concept and detail its designanother new item! Bike boxes should be used only where they are useful, ie where cyclists left turns are plenty.we insist on parking, because it is the main bottleneck in bicycle usage for transportation: you can find calm streets or ride on busy streets, but it is useless if there is no place to park your bike at destination.on this picture there are 6 bikes in a 3 place bike rack and 3 bikes on each park meter; and the city plans to replace park meters by onepay station for each blockequipment selection is also