Shared Bike/Bus Lanes: Do They Work?

Sara Jane Hendricks

Senior Research Associate
University of South Florida

Mary Anne Koos

Special Projects Coordinator
Florida Department of Transportation

CUTR Webcast Online Series

Thursday, September 20, 2012
 What is a Shared
Bicycle/Bus Lane
(SBBL)?

Panama City Beach

Source: Streetscape Design
Manual
Interest is increasing to do more with
limited street right-of-way

SBBLs are less common in the U.S. than in the

U.K. and several European nations.
SBBLs function in different settings.
Few studies have evaluated their safety or
effectiveness.
SBBLs tend to be initiated by local
governments rather than transit agencies.
 Presentation Objectives
Share findings on
Available guidance in U.S. states and
municipalities
General characteristics of existing SBBLs
Four case study examples
Key considerations for SBBL design and
operation
Recommendations for further research
 State Guidance
Illinois DOT: Bureau of Design and Environment Manual
SBBL minimum width 16.5 ft to curb face
Maryland: Bicycle and Pedestrian Design Guidelines
An SBBL is typically wider than standard 11-foot lane
Must plan in consultation with Bicycle and Pedestrian
Coordinator
Washington, D.C.: Bicycle Facility Design Guide
No guidance for SBBL but DDOT Bicycle Facility Design Guide
illustrates alternative configurations for bike facilities relative
to bus stops where there is limited right-of-way
Washington State: Design Manual M22.01.07
Suggests consideration of SBBL where bus speeds and
volumes are low
 Municipal Guidance
Pima County DOT, City of Tucson DOT, AZ: Pavement Marking
Design Manual
Recommends minimum and standard SBBL widths
Illustrates accepted configuration for SBBLs
City of San Francisco, CA: Bicycle Plan Update
Recommends range for SBBL width
Recommends study of safety of SBBLs
http://www.bettermarketstreet.org
City of Albuquerque, NM: Bikeways and Trails Master Plan
Design Guidelines
Recommends range for SBBL width
Recommends use of SBBL where width for separate and adjacent
bike and bus lanes is unavailable
City of Minneapolis, MN: Bicycle Facility Design Guidelines
Recommends minimum and standard SBBL widths
Lists considerations: bicycle volumes, bus frequency, sufficient SBBL
width for passing within the lane, time restrictions
 General Findings
Identified 27 examples of
existing SBBLs in U.S.
Identified 10 other
examples of facilities that
are unofficial, planned,
under study, former, or
unusually designed
Found variations by bus
stop spacing, existence of
parking lanes, colored
lanes, and time Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
restrictions Source: Michelle DeRobertis
 During off-peak travel periods,
some SBBLs allow on-street parking
 SBBL Characteristics
1. Short Connector Segments

9th St. NW,

Washington,
D.C.
Photo credit:
JoAnne Fiebe
 SBBL Characteristics
2. Urban/Downtown Locations

Elliot Ave. W
15th Ave. W
Seattle, WA
Source: John
Mauro
 SBBL Characteristics
3. Suburban/Low Density

MD 528 (Coastal Highway) near 70th St.

Ocean City, Maryland
Source: John Ciccarelli
 Case Study: MD 528 Coastal Hwy,
Ocean City, MD
Signage indicates
17th Street to E. 145th Street
interrupted section
Photo credit: John Ciccarelli
Coastal Highway lane configuration
 Coastal Highway SBBL Features
Location 7.4 miles between 17th St. and E 145th St.

Date opened Operated as bus lanes prior to late 1980s, SBBL since
then
Facility type SBBL both northbound and southbound. Northbound
SBBL is interrupted for 5 blocks between 59th St. and
64th St.
Other permitted Right-turning vehicles, scooters, and ScootCoupes
vehicles (engine size under 49 cc)

SBBL width 11-12.5 ft.

Block length Generally 300 ft. with some variation

Bus stop frequency Usually every other block

Speed limit 35-40 mph; 30 mph for scooters (Maryland State law)

Traffic signal spacing Approximately every 1000 ft.

 Case Study: 7th and 9th Sts. NW,
Washington, D.C.
Between Pennsylvania Avenue and Mount Vernon Square
9th St. NW lane configuration type 1
9th St. NW configuration type 1
Photo credit: JoAnne Fiebe
9th St. NW lane configuration type 2
9th St. NW configuration type 2
Photo credit: JoAnne Fiebe
 SBBL lane
markings at
beginning of
each block

Photo credit:
JoAnne Fiebe
 7th and 9th Sts. NW SBBL Features
7th St NW 9th St NW
Parallel SBBLs located in downtown Washington, D.C.
Location between Pennsylvania Ave and Mt Vernon Square
Date opened 2003 2003
Facility type Northbound SBBL Alternates with southbound SBBL and
with adjacent on- two-way traffic flow on one block, to
street parking separate adjacent bike and bus lanes
and one-way traffic flow on next block
Other permitted Right-turning Right-turning vehicles
vehicles vehicles
SBBL width 11 ft. 11-foot SBBL, 18 feet for separate and
adjacent bike and bus lanes
Block length Varies 330-430 ft. Varies 330-430 ft.
Bus stop Multiple routes Multiple routes every block
frequency every block
Speed limit 30 mph 30 mph
 Case Study: Hennepin Avenue,
Minneapolis, MN
11th St. to Washington Ave. S Hennepin Avenue
Prior to lane reconfiguration
Source: Minneapolis Public Works
Hennepin Avenue lane configurations
 Hennepin Ave SBBL Features
Location Main thoroughfare through the west side of downtown
Minneapolis

Date opened October 2009. Previously , Hennepin Avenue operated as a

one-way pair with 1st Avenue with two-way bike lane
between general traffic lanes and contraflow bus lane.

Other permitted Right-turning vehicles

vehicles

SBBL width Alternating 18.5 ft and 13.5 ft. on blocks with left turn lane
Block length 400 ft.
Bus stop frequency Every other block
Speed limit 30 mph
Colored lanes In 2010, a green four feet wide and additional lane markings
were painted to increase visibility. Paint has faded.
Hennepin Avenue Green Pavement
Source: Minneapolis Public Works

Hennepin Avenue,
Minneapolis, MN
Source: Minneapolis
Public Works
Hatch marks used to measure lane position
Source: Minneapolis Public Works
Case Study: Chestnut St.,
Philadelphia, PA
6th Street to 18th Street, Center City
Chestnut Street lane configuration
 Chestnut Street SBBL features
Location Chestnut St. in heavily congested Center City, proximate to
three universities
Date opened In 1990s, Chestnut St was converted from a two-way busway
to eastbound one-way flow for general traffic and SBBL.
Roadway One general traffic lane, SBBL adjacent to curb on south side
configuration of street, on-street parking lane on north side.
Facility type SBBL
Other permitted Right-turning vehicles
vehicles
SBBL width 9 ft.
Block length 400 ft.
Bus stop Every block
frequency
Speed limit 25 mph
Colored lane Originally colored red. Paint faded and will not be repainted.
 Bicycle/Bus Interaction

Walnut Street (separate bike lane), Philadelphia Source: DVRPC

 Some SBBL
designs
attempt to
discourage
bicyclists
from passing
between bus
and curb
Photo source: Austroads,
2005
Main
Problems
Cited
Enforcement of
SBBL exclusive
use
Large volumes
of right-turning
vehicles in the
SBBL
Source: Minneapolis Public
Works
 Comparative SBBL Posted Speed Limits
City Street Speed Limit (mph) Width (ft)

Eugene, OR Kincaid St. 20 15

Philadelphia, PA Chestnut St. 25 9

Fort Worth, TX Throckmorton and 25-30 11

Houston Sts.
Denver, CO 19th St. 30 12-18

Minneapolis, MN Hennepin Ave. 30 13.5-18.5

Seattle, WA Stewart St. 30 12

Tucson, AZ E Broadway Blvd. 35-40 9-12

Madison, WI Mineral Point Rd. 35-40 13.5

Rehoboth Beach, DE Coastal Highway 1 45 12

Aerodynamic forces caused by heavy motor vehicles passing bicyclists
Source: A Bikeway Criteria Digest, USDOT FHWA, 1977
 Lane Width Recommendations
Compared to Actual
Source Facility Type Width (ft) Source Type
Transport Research SBBL 13.1 Study recommendations
Laboratory Study
Cardiff Guide SBBL 13.1-16.7 Official guide
University of N. Florida SBBL 16 Study recommendations
University of N. Florida SBBL 17 Study recommendations
(curb and gutter)
Various U.S. cities SBBL 10-18 Official guides
FDOT Plans Preparation Wide curb lane 14 SHS design criteria
Manual
1999 AASHTO Guide for Wide curb lane 14 National recommendation
the Development of
Bicycle Facilities
U.S. SBBLS SBBL 9-16 Actual widths
U.S. separate but Separate but 15-20 Actual widths
adjacent facilities adjacent
 Narrow-width bicycle/bus lane
To pass, one must enter adjacent lane
Bus enters adjacent lane to pass cyclist

9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. Credit: JoAnne Fiebe

Narrow-width SBBL with advisory cycle lane
Wide-width SBBL
 Minimum
Description Label
Dimensions
Width of bicyclist operating space Aa 3 4
Minimum clearance required between bicyclist and bus Bb 3
Width of standard 40-foot transit bus (not including mirrors) Cc 8 6
Distance from edge of bus to adjacent lane D 1 9
Width of bicyclist (center of tire located two feet from edge of lane) Ea 2 6
Width of standard 40-foot transit bus (including mirrors) Fc 10 2
Wide lane stripe Gd 8
Width of bus operating space He 12
Total width of SBBL I 16 7
a AASHTO 1999 5.
b Section 316.083 F.S.
c TTI 1996, 37.
d Mary Anne Koos, Florida Department of Transportation, Design Office. Conversation, April 30, 2012.
e Sando and Moses 2010, 44.
Narrow-width SBBL with partial bus bay and
advisory cycle lane along left side of SBBL
Separate channel for bicyclists routed
to the right of the bus stop
Cycle channel routed around bus stop
Source: Cycling England Gallery
Bicycle/Bus
Interaction
The leapfrogging
concept is overrated.
Cyclists typically pass
buses and leave them in
their wake.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner, City
of Baltimore

Chestnut Street,
Philadelphia, PA
Source: John S. Allen
 Bus Operator Training
Always assume there is a bicyclist on the right
Check mirrors and slow down before pulling over
Stop as close to the curb as possible at a bus stop
Remember bicyclists you pass, in case bus
passenger suddenly requests to stop
Anticipate bicyclist evasive maneuvers where there
is on-street parking,
Sources: City of Chicago Department of Transportation, Chicago Transit
Authority, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Delaware
Department of Transportation, Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance
 Bus Operator Training
Give at least three feet of space and maintain
steady speed when passing a bicyclist
Follow the bicycle from a distance of at least one
bus length where there is insufficient space to pass
Remember that bicyclists may not hear a bus
approaching from behind
Inspect brake and turn signal lights daily
Anticipate that bicyclists may change lanes at
intersections

Sources: City of Chicago Department of Transportation, Chicago Transit

Authority, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Delaware
Department of Transportation, Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance
 Public Information Campaigns
Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis

Source: City of Minneapolis Public Works,

excerpt from brochure
 More Research Is Needed On:
1. Effect of SBBLs on 6. Determination of the
encouraging bicycling maximum safe speed
2. Better ways to collect 7. Characteristics of gaps
bicycle traffic count data in traffic that are
3. Mobility impacts of an necessary to provide
SBBL upon all modes safe passing
4. Crash analysis of SBBLs, opportunities
esp. compared to other 8. Effective ways to
bicycle facility types enforce SBBL
5. Evaluation of alternative restrictions
bus stop treatments
 Paris, France Photo credit: Franz Loewenherz
Questions? Phone 813-974-9801 hendricks@cutr.usf.edu
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/research-center/Completed_RD.shtm
http://www.nctr.usf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/77937.pdf