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FHWA Highway Safety Programs

Lesson 19: Bike Lanes.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

  1. Explain the elements used in designing roadways that include bicycle lanes.

Pre-Instruction:

Components

Activities

Motivation

Have the students describe the problems they encountered when they took their bicycle trip on a roadway with bicycle lanes.

Objectives

Present and explain the lesson goal listed above (V-19-1).

Information Presentation:

Components

Activities

Information Sequence

Outline the presentation of the lecture (V-19-2).

Information

Discuss where and when to use bicycle lanes.

Review the general design principles related to bicycle lanes and intersections (V-19-2 through V-19-6).

Example(s)

Show examples (e.g., slides, videotape) of the different types of bicycle lanes cited in the text.

Student Participation:

Components

Activities

Practice

Use the activity provided in the Student's Guide.

Feedback

Provide comment and feedback to the class as appropriate.

Follow-Up:

Components

Activity

Enrichment

Assign reading for Lesson 20.

Have the students compile a list of streets where it might not be appropriate to have bicycle traffic. This information will be used as a starting point for the discussion of restriping existing lanes.

Review

Provide a summary of Lesson 19 (V-19-7).

Exercise

Ask the students to complete the exercise at the end of Lesson 19 in their workbooks. The exercise is reprinted below for your convenience.

19.11 Exercise

Lesson Objective:

  • Explain the design elements used for bicycle lanes

Lesson Outline:

  • Where and when to use bicycle lanes
  • Design principles related to bicycle lanes

Bicycle Lane Design Principles:

  • Lane widths
  • Unmarked lanes
  • Location in the cross-section
  • Two-way lanes
  • Continuous right-turn lanes

Bicycle Lane Design Principles (continued):

  • Contra-flow lanes
  • Pavement markings
  • Signing
  • Diagonal parking
  • Intersections

Intersection Design:

  • Bus stops
  • Right-turn lanes
  • Offset intersections
  • Signal actuation
  • Expressway interchanges

Intersection Design (continued):

  • At-grade crossings
  • Grade-separated crossings
  • Right-lane merge
  • Exit ramps
  • Dual right-turn lanes
  • Tight right-turn lanes

Lesson Summary:

  • There are many ways to allow for bicycle lanes on vehicular roadways
  • Use of specific design elements create safe and efficient bicycle lanes