Facility design / Engineering

Infrastructure plays a vital role in the encouragement of cycling. The provision and design of bicycles lanes and paths have a significant effect on the safety of cyclists as well as other road users.

The following documents are intended to inform planners and engineers on the necessary design requirements related to bicycle infrastructure and use.

 Australia:

  • Austroads, 1999, Guide to traffic engineering practice part 14: Bicycles, Austroads, Sydney.

    Part 14 is the principal guide to the design of bicycle infrastructure in Australia.
  • Austroads, 2001, Traffic flow models allowing for pedestrians and cyclists, Austroads, Sydney.

    This document begins by reviewing the literature on safety and mobility issues for pedestrians and cyclists. An investigation of traffic models is then undertaken, with particular attention given to pedestrians and cyclists.

New South Wales:

  • Roads and Traffic Authority, 2005, NSW Bicycle Guidelines, Government of New South Wales, Sydney.

    This document is a detailed design manual covering a wide variety of infrastructure design issues. It is an important document for road designers, engineers and planners involved in the development of bicycle infrastructure.

Queensland:

  • Queensland Transport, Cycle Note series: Technical Information for Cycling, Queensland Government, Brisbane Visit Site

    Relevant cycle notes include:

    • Queensland Cycle Note A7, 2006, Bicycle facilities design guidelines

      This Cycle Note provides a brief update on guidelines for cycling facilities. The document is intended to assist planners and engineers in the development of bicycle infrastructure.
    • Queensland Cycle Note B2, 2006, Selecting appropriate cycling facilities

      This Cycle Note provides essential information for local authorities investigating opportunities to develop cycle facilities. This document offers the information necessary to raise awareness of the possibilities for bicycle infrastructure development and appropriateness for the local context.
    • Queensland Cycle Note C7, 2006, Cycling and heavy vehicles

      This Cycle Note aims to improve safety outcomes by raising awareness on the relative risks posed by the interaction of cyclists and heavy vehicles.
    • Queensland Cycle Note B4, 2006, Designing good quality on-road cycling facilities

      This Cycle Note offers information to planners and engineers on the development of high quality on-road bicycle infrastructure.
    • Queensland Cycle Note B5, 2006, Finding space for on-road bicycle lanes

      This Cycle Note offers useful information, including a checklist style format to maximise the opportunities for providing bicycle infrastructure on space constrained roads.
    • Queensland Cycle Note B8, 2006, Cycling and traffic calming

      This Cycle Note raises awareness of both the problems traffic calming can cause cyclists, as well as the potential benefits.
    • Queensland Cycle Note C1, 2006, Assessing footpaths for shared use

      This Cycle Note provides the necessary criteria to assess whether a footpath is able to be used safely as a shared path, for both pedestrians and cyclists.
    • Queensland Cycle Note C2, 2006, Reducing conflict between bicycle riders and pedestrians

      This Cycle Note outlines the common causes of conflict between pedestrians and cyclists and offers suggested measures to minimise these conflicts.

back to top

Victoria:

  • Local Government Association of Victoria, website, Thinking Transport

    Useful image library containing examples of bicycle friendly facility/road design.
  • VicRoads, Cycle Notes series: Design standards for bicycle facilities, Government of Victoria, Melbourne

    Relevant cycle notes include:

    • VicRoads Cycle Note 1, 1999: Bicycle facility design guidelines

      Cycle Notes No. 1 provides a brief overview of Austroads Part 14 Guide To Traffic Engineering: Bicycles.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 2, 1999, Bicycle lanes

      Cycle Notes No. 2 encourages a consistent approach to the development of bicycle lanes, including signs, line marking and pavement symbols.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 3, 1999, Shared bicycle/pedestrian path design

      Cycle Notes No. 3 addresses four main design issues for shared bicycle/pedestrian paths; path width, clearances to obstacles, path curvature and sight distance.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 4, 1999, Clearway bicycle lanes

      Cycle Notes No. 4 outlines the issues concerning the provision of on road bicycle lanes on sections of clearway (restricted kerbside parking).
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 5, 2000, ‘Head Start’ storage areas at intersections
      View PDF

      Cycle Notes No. 5 provides design guidelines concerning the accommodation of cyclists whilst waiting at controlled intersections. A case study is also offered to highlight the safety benefits of providing cycle specific line marking/symbol features at intersections.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 6, 2000, Signage of rural training circuits
      View PDF

      Cycle Notes No. 6 offers information regarding the provision of signage to raise awareness of cyclists’ presence in the area.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 7, 2000, On-road arterial bicycle routes,
      View PDF

      Cycle Notes No. 7 offers guidance on how to provide cyclists amenity on arterial routes. The paper distinguishes between local and arterial routes in an effort to provide a bicycle network that best meets the needs of cyclists with different abilities/experience.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 8, 2001, Providing for cyclists at signalised intersections
      View PDF

      Cycle Notes No. 8 provides a set of design guidelines for on road bicycle lanes at intersections.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 9, 2001, Creating on-road space for cyclists
      View PDF
      Cycle Notes No. 9 outlines the importance of providing on road infrastructure/line marking for cyclists and provides 9 suggested techniques of delivering bicycle friendly routes.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 10, 2001, Shared path behavioural signs
      View PDF

      Cycles Notes No. 10 aims to increase safety on shared paths by offering a framework for the provision of behavioural messages to users.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 11, 2002, Directional signing for off-road paths
      View PDF

      Cycle Notes No. 11 provides information on the importance and design of directional signage for off-road paths.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 12, 2002, Design standards for bicycle facilities
      View PDF

      Cycle Notes No. 12 provides guidance on the required standards for bicycle lane and path provision.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 13, 2004, Wide kerbside lane markings
      View PDF

      Cycle Notes No. 13 outlines the standards and guidelines for wide kerbside lanes, in an attempt to improve safety in areas deemed too narrow to allow a standard bicycle lane.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 14, 2005, Coloured surface treatments for bicycle lanes
      View PDF

      Cycles Notes No. 14 provides guidance on the need and provision of coloured bicycle lanes, in an effort to increase the prominence and safety of cyclists.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 15, 2005, Providing for cyclists at roundabouts
      View PDF

      Cycle Notes No. 15 provides information on improving safety outcomes for cyclists at roundabouts. Reducing entry speeds for motor vehicles and providing continuity of on road bicycle infrastructure are two principal suggestions raised in this cycle note.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 16, 2005, Safe road crossings for off-road paths
      View PDF
      Cycle Notes No. 16 addresses safety issues for off-road path users at road crossing points.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 17, 2005, Terminal treatments for off-road paths
      View PDF

      Cycle Notes No. 17 outlines the purpose and design provision of terminal treatments for off-road and shared pathways.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 18, 2006, Providing a smooth surface for cyclists
      View PDF

      Cycle Notes No. 18 outlines the importance of providing cycle routes free of surface imperfections, such as potholes and drainage grates.
    • VicRoads Cycle Note 19, 2006, Providing for cyclists within bus lanes
      View PDF

      Cycle Notes No. 19 outlines the main issues to consider when combining a bicycle and bus lane.
  • Rose, G., 2003, Bikes and travel behaviour change – a transport engineers perspective, Institute of Transport Studies, Monash University, Melbourne. Presentation at Connecting Cycling, Canberra, 20 - 21 November.
    View PDF

    This presentation explores the balance between travel behaviour change program such as TravelSmart, with other methods of encouragement, such as bicycle infrastructure improvements.

back to top

Western Australia:

  • Main Roads, 2002, ‘Head Start’ storage facilities at signalised intersections, Government of Western Australia
    Visit Site

    This document offers information to engineers on the development of bicycle friendly intersection waiting areas, as part of on-road bicycle facilities.
  • Main Roads (WA), website, Bicycle and motorcycle detection at traffic lights
    Visit Site

    This document provides user focused information on bicycle specific loop detectors at controlled intersections.
  • Main Roads (WA), website, Guidelines for assessing cycling level of service
    Visit Site

    The document provides a comprehensive checklist to assess cyclists amenity in a variety of potential locations.

 Australian Capital Territory

  •  TAMs cycling site
    Visit Site

  • Standards
    Visit Site

    Territory and Municiple Services Cycling and Walking standard is DS 13 which has 2 components; the specifications & secondly the detailed technical drawings.

 New Zealand

  • Wilke, A. , Hinton, M. & Newcombe, D. (2007) Diagonal cycle crossing for signalised intersection, 6th annual NZ cycling conference
    View PDF

    Designers ViaStrada and Maunsell have developed an innovative concept, which proposes a diagonal cycle phase to run concurrently with opposing right-turning traffic (i.e. during the ‘single diamond phase’). This is believed to be the first of its kind in NZ, and whilst the concept is described in the Dutch CROW manual, it appears that it has not been tried before in The Netherlands either. This paper will present the concept, and discuss its benefits and risks.
    The slide presentation View PDF  (6.5 MB).

back to top

International:

  • Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Centre, website, Bikeability checklist
    View PDF

    A practical guide designed to evaluate the bicycle friendliness of particular localities. Although it was developed in the United States, the majority of the content is relevant to the Australian context.

  • Eckerson, C. Jr. (2007) "Berkeley Bike Boulevards" (8.13 min video) - StreetFilms.org
    Visit Site

    In Berkeley, Calif. a citywide network of bicycle priority streets called Bicycle Boulevards allow cyclists to navigate safely. They are marked by smart traffic management, bountiful traffic calming, and the aura of livability and putting people first, cars second. Among their most unique trademarks are the purple signage and street stencils larger than a car!

    In this trip to Berkeley, StreetFilms’ Clarence Eckerson Jr. talks to advocates and users of the boulevards about their history and benefits. 

Back to top