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Strategies > Transportation Infrastructure > Bicycle Infrastructure

Bicycle Infrastructure

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Photo: City of Portland, OR
Bicycle infrastructure includes bicycle networks, bicycle lanes, protected bicycle lanes (aka cycletracks), neighborhood bikeways, and intersection designs. Current practice recommends protected bicycle lanes for streets with higher volumes of traffic and shared use neighborhood bikeways for low-volume streets.

Proven Outcomes

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Increased Physical Activity
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Increased Cyclist Safety
  ​Bicycle infrastructure is a recommended strategy for increasing physical activity and increasing cyclist safety (Community Guide, 2016).

Likely Outcomes

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Reduced Vehicle Use
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Improved Sense of Community
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Reduced Air Pollution
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Improved Sense of Safety
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Reduced GHG
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Reduced Stress
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Improved Aesthics
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Increased Retail Activity
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Reduced Obesity Rates
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Increased Employment
Possible co-benefits include reduced vehicle use and associated emissions. An increase in bicycling may reduce vehicle use, but not all trips taken by bicycle substitute for a vehicle trip so it is a not a one-for-one replacement. The direct effect of bicycling on vehicle miles traveled, and therefore, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, has not been well studied (Handy et al, 2014). However, a recent longitudinal study of nearly 2,000 people found that those who replaced one car trip with a bicycle trip reduced their carbon footprint by 0.5 metric tons per year (Brand et al., 2021).​

​Bicycle infrastructure may
improve aesthetics and positive perceptions of the space. It may reduce obesity rates, improve the sense of community, and improve perceptions of neighborhood safety. Bicycle infrastructure may help reduce stress. Finally, it may enhance retail activity and increase employment (Community Guide, 2016; ​Handy et al, 2014). 

Equity and Inclusion

  • ​Bicyclists are overrepresented in traffic injuries and fatalities and, despite the fact that traffic fatalities overall have decreased, have been increasing (NHTSA, 2019). 
  • Strategies that involve changes to the physical environment may increase the attractiveness of an area. An increased demand for housing may result in increased property values or rents and could lead to involuntary displacement if appropriate mitigation strategies are not put into place. The lessons learned from anti-displacement efforts in several cities can be found in this PolicyLink report. Practitioners can evaluate the risk of displacement through the methods described by Chapple et al. (2017) or Bates (2013).  
  • Experiencing harassment or violence while bicycling is a concern for many people of color. Bicycle infrastructure may protect people from crashes but not inter-personal violence. If concerns about racist violence exists, this must be addressed independently from infrastructural solutions.
  • Ensure that bicycle infrastructure meets the needs of those with disabilities. Can a three-wheeled bicycle fit in the bicycle lane? Wider than standard bicycle lanes better accommodate mobility devices as well as cargo bicycles and bicycle trailers. Contact your local Center for Independent Living for help assessing the accessibility of your bicycle network. 

Complementary Strategies

  • Local Accessibility
  • Residential Density
  • Land Use Mix​
  • Street Network Connectivity
  • Traffic Calming 

Implementation Guidance

Guides & Reports
Achieving Multimodal Networks: Applying Design Flexibility and Reducing Conflicts


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​Federal Highway Administration, 2016
​Reducing Climate Change Impacts on Walking and Bicycling



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C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, 2020
Designing for All Ages & Abilities: Contextual Guidance for High-Comfort Bicycle Facilities


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NACTO, 2017
 Working with Metropolitan Planning Organizations: Lessons and Answers for Advocates
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Alliance for Biking & Walking & The League of American Cyclists, n.d.
Oregon Avenue Protected Bicycle Lane: A Case Study of a Health & Transportation Partnership in Klamath Falls, Oregon
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Oregon Department of Transportation,  n.d.
Research Reports & Briefs
Costs for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Infrastructure Improvements



UNC Highway Safety Research Center, 2013​
District Department of Transportation Bicycle Facility Final Report: Summary of Evaluation and Recommendations
Kittelson & Associates, Portland State University, & Toole Design Group, 2012​​​​​
Fact Sheets & Infographics
Health and Co-Benefits of Active Transportation



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ITE Quick Bite, 2021
Urban Bikeway Design Guide




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NACTO, n.d. 
Lane Repurposing Guidebook




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Florida Department of Transportation, 2020
Building Healthy and Prosperous Communities: How Metro Areas Are Implementing More and Better Bicycling and Walking Projects
​Transportation for America & APHA, 2017
Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide



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​Federal Highway Administration, 2015​​​​
Strategies for Engaging Community: Developing Better Relationships through Bike Share


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NACTO & Better Bike Share Partnership, 2018
Pursuing Equity in Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning




​Pedestrian Bicycle Information Center, 2016
TCRP Report 95: Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities (Chapter 16)


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Transportation Research Board, 2012
14 Ways to Make Bike Lanes Better: A Quick Guide to the Ways to Protect a Bike Lane 


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People for Bikes, 2014
Guidebook for Measuring Multimodal Network Connectivity


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​Federal Highway Administration, 2018​
Building Equity: Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Protected Bike Lanes: An Idea Book for Fairer Cities​

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People for Bikes & the Alliance for Biking and Walking, 2015​
Incorporating On-Road Bicycle Networks into Resurfacing Projects


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​Federal Highway Administration, 2015
​Separated Bike Lane Planning & Design Guide



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​Massachusetts Department of Transportation, 2015
How to Drive a Modal Shift from Private Vehicle Use to Public Transport, Walking and Cycling



​C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, 2019
Low-Stress Bicycling and Network Connectivity



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Mineta Transportation Institute, 2012
Making a Place for Bicycles in California: Using Bicycle Parking Laws to Support Health, Businesses, and the Environment
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ChangeLab Solutions, 2012
Measuring Multimodal Network Connectivity Pilot Grant Program Final Report


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Federal Highway Administration, 2021
Bikeway Selection Guide



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​Federal Highway Administration, 2019
Small Town and Rural Multimodal Networks




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​Federal Highway Administration, 2017
Case Studies in Realizing Co-Benefits of Multimodal Roadway Design and Gray and Green Infrastructure

​Federal Highway Administration, 2018
Rethinking Streets for Bikes: An Evidence-Based Guide to 25 Bike-Focused Street Transformations



Sustainable Communities Initiative, 2020
Bicycle and Pedestrian Forecasting Tools: State of the Practice


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Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, 2015
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  • Service Areas
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    • Goals >
      • Physical Activity
      • Bicycling
      • Walking
      • Equity and Inclusion
      • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
      • Vehicle Miles Traveled
    • Strategies >
      • Transportation Infrastructure >
        • Bicycle Infrastructure
        • Pedestrian Infrastructure
        • Traffic Calming
      • Transportation Demand Management >
        • Active Travel to School
        • Employer-Based Trip Reduction Programs
        • Parking Availability and Pricing
        • Road User Pricing
        • Voluntary Travel Behavior Change Programs
      • Land Use Strategies >
        • Local Accessibility
        • Regional Accessibility
        • Residential Density
        • Land Use Mix
        • Street Network Connectivity
      • Public Transit >
        • Transit Access
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      • Engagement >
        • Community Engagement
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