Description
Application
Advantages
Disadvantages
Design Considerations
Implementation Challenges
Example Cities

Berkeley, CA	San Luis Obispo, CA	Portland, OR	Sample design from the Fundamentals of Bicycle Boulevard Planning and Design

Description
A low speed, low volume local street that has been optimized for bicycle travel through treatments such as traffic calming and traffic reduction, signage, pavement markings and intersection crossing treatments. The intent of this treatment is to provide direct, safe, comfortable and attractive routes that are welcoming to cyclists of all ages and skill levels. Commonly called a bike boulevard in the U.S.

Application

• Low traffic residential street with multiple alternative routes for motor vehicles.
• Streets parallel to a nearby arterial.
• Direct routes across residential areas without bicycle-specific facilities.
• Connections between major bicycle facilities.

Advantages

• Appealing to a wide range of cyclists – high levels of perceived safety, comfort and attractiveness.
• Provides cyclists an alternative to bicycling on an arterial street with high speed motorized traffic.
• Does not require any removal of parking or auto travel lanes.
• Improves public realm and pedestrian experience by restricting motorized traffic.
• Inexpensive.
  

Disadvantages

• Residential streets do not typically provide direct access to commercial destinations.
• Lower speeds for cyclists (compared to dedicated facilities) may increase travel time.
• Local residents may be initially wary of alterations to their street.

Design/Maintenance Considerations

• Design should permit bicycles to use the entire width of the roadway and ride side-by-side.
• Stop signs and signals should be very limited on the route, except where they aid bicyclists in crossing busy streets.
• Clear, frequent signage and pavement markings should differentiate the street visually from others in the area. Consider public art or unique landscaping to further define the street.
• Traffic calming applications should reflect the local character and aesthetic of the neighborhood.
• Diversion techniques should limit motorized traffic to local access only.
• Low design speed and posted speed limits are essential (20 mph is ideal). See the Fundamentals of Bicycle Boulevard Planning and Design for more information.

Implementation Obstacles

• Enabling legislation may be required to reduce speed limits
• Pavement markings and signage not in the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

Example Cities

• Arcata, CA
• Berkeley, CA
• Chicago, IL
• Columbia, MO
• Davis, CA
• Denver, CO
• Long Beach, CA
• Minneapolis, MN
• Pasadena, CA
• Portland, OR
• Salt Lake City, UT
• San Francisco, CA
• San Luis Obispo, CA
• Seattle, WA
• St Paul, MN
• Syracuse, NY
• Multiple cities in North America and Europe

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