CRC - Bicycle network planning

The development of a bicycle friendly environment requires the provision of a well planned, integrated network of bicycle routes. The linking of bicycle lanes (on road) and paths (off road) with residential areas, shops, schools workplaces and recreational reserves will improve the usability of the bicycle network.

The following documents are intended to assist practitioners develop a practical, attractive and safe bicycle network:

Australia:

Ker, I., Huband, A., Veith, G., Taylor, J., 2006, Pedestrian-cyclist conflict minimisation on shared paths and footpaths, Research Report, Austroads, Sydney.
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This report investigates actual and potential conflict between cyclists and pedestrians. It outlines best practice solutions to minimise the potential for conflict between these modes of travel. These solutions cover engineering, traffic management and urban design concepts, as well as education and awareness strategies.
Australian Bicycle Council, 2006, Introductory Notes: Pedestrian-cyclist conflict minimisation on paths, Austroads, Sydney.
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This document presents a condensed summary of the report by Ker et al (2006) titled Pedestrian-cyclist conflict minimisation on shared paths and footpaths.
Australian Bicycle Council, 2006, Introductory Notes 1: Pedestrian-cyclist conflict minimisation on paths, Austroads, Sydney.
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This paper offers a short, practical guide to determine whether conflict is likely to arise from path design. It outlines suggested design features aimed at reducing conflict for particular types of shared paths.
Australian Bicycle Council, 2006, Introductory Notes 2: Pedestrian-cyclist conflict minimisation on paths, Austroads, Sydney.
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This short document outlines the importance of integrated planning in the development of shared path networks. This ‘information note’ covers the appropriate integration of land use and transport planning with community, social and economic development.
Australian Bicycle Council, 2006, Introductory Notes: Pedestrian-cyclist conflict minimisation on paths, Austroads, Sydney.
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Presents a condensed summary, in table format, of the various issues related to shared path planning, design, management and use.
Ker, I., Martin, T., Jameson, G., McRobert, J., 2004, Bicycle and Shared Path Design: Taking into Account Whole of Life Costing, Australian Bicycle Council, Austroads, Sydney.
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A presentation covering various aspects of shared path development and maintenance issues.... Offers an easy to use guide on selecting shared path pavement options.
Katz, R., 2001, Forecasting demand for bicycle facilities, Austroads, Sydney.
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This report offers a review of the various methods used to forecast demand for bicycle infrastructure. It outlines the relative benefits and limitations of each method.
Australian Bicycle Council, website, Green Bicycle Lanes: Background, Australian practice and your feedback
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Introductory information covering the benefits of and the evidence for coloured bicycle lanes, as a means of improving road safety. This web-page outlines the current status of coloured bicycle lanes in most Australian states and the territories.
Austroads, 2001, Traffic flow models allowing for pedestrians and cyclists, Austroads, Sydney.
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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.
Active Transport Quantification Tool, allows you to measure the health, community and environmental benefits of your walking or riding. It has been developed through a partnership between ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability – Oceania (ICLEI Oceania) and The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth). VicHealth provided the funding for the development of the Active Transport Quantification Tool.
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To access the tool you will need an account. This registration process allows you to revisit benefits that you have calculated earlier and allows ICLEI Oceania and VicHealth to keep your information confidential. If you are a participant in the Cities for Climate Protection program you may have an account already please contact your CCP State Manager prior to login.

Queensland:

Queensland Transport, Cycle Note series: Technical Information for Cycling, Queensland Government, Brisbane Visit Site
Relevant cycle notes include:
- Queensland Cycle Note C5, 2006, Personal security and bicycle facilities
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  This Cycle Note offers suggestions to planners and engineers on improving safety for both users, and neighbouring residents of off road bicycle paths.
- Queensland Cycle Note A1, 2006, Total Quality Management for Cycling,
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  This Cycle Note provides a scorecard style document to which local government can assess their performance on bicycle encouragement. The purpose of the document is to enhance the level of consistency and integration upon which local councils provide cycle facilities and encouragement.

Victoria:

VicRoads, 2000, On-road arterial bicycle routes, Victorian Government, Melbourne.
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Vicroads 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, website, Victorian Bicycle Network Planning
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Offers a brief overview of bicycle network planning in Victorian with links to related information.
Vicroads, website, Principal Bicycle Network
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The Principal Bicycle Network is Melbourne’s major network of cycle routes, both actual and proposed. To date, 1,200km has been completed, with a further 2,300km planned for the future.
Bicycle Victoria, website, Local Streets for Cycling and Walking
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This webpage is presented as a toolbox for local government to assist in the development of bicycle friendly local street design.
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.
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This presentation explores the balance between travel behaviour change program such as TravelSmart, with other methods of encouragement, such as bicycle infrastructure improvements.
Latrobe City Council - Bicycle Plan 2007 - 2010
Bike Plan
Executive Summary

To provide a network of suitable cycling facilities and education programs to increase cyclist safety, encourage cycling as an activity for the health, well-being and social benefits it provides, and to promote the Latrobe City as a tourist and competition cycling destination.

Tasmania

Draft Hobart Regional Arterial Bicycle Network
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The plan was developed through a working group made up of representatives from Hobart, Clarence, Glenorchy, Kingborough and Brighton Councils as well as a representative from the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources. A funding grant was provided by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts to assist with the development of the plan. CyclingSouth prepared the document with reference to the municipal bicycle plans of each Council and in consultation with the working group.

New Zealand

Land Transport Safety Authority, 2004, (6.5 MB) Cycle network and route planning guide, New Zealand Government, Christchurch.
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This comprehensive guidebook aims to promote a consistent approach to planning for cycling in New Zealand – although it has widely applicable recommendations. This guide is intended to assist planners and other professionals improve bicycle friendly design and amenity.
Campbell, D., Jurisich, I., Dunn, R., 2006, Improved multi-lane roundabout design for cyclists, Research Report 287, Land Transport New Zealand, Wellington.
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This report highlights safety concerns for cyclists at multi-lane roundabouts and develops recommendations to improve their safety performance.
Walton, D., Dravitzki, V.K., Cleland, B.S., Thomas, J. A., Jackett, R., 2005, Balancing the needs of cyclists and motorists, Research Report No. 273, Land Transport New Zealand, Wellington.
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This report highlights common points of conflict between the needs of cyclists and motorists. It provides recommendations on road designs to minimise these points of conflict by offering a balance between the needs of both road users.
Estimating demand for new cycling facilities in New Zealand
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A free download, research paper from Department of Land Transport in New Zealand.

International:

Pucher, J. & Buelher, R., 2007, World Transport Policy and Practice, Volume 13 No. 3, At the Frontiers of Cycling: Policy Innovations in the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. Eco-Logica Ltd
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This article presents 6 detailed studies of cycling in the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. They represent the best in coordinated policies and programs to make cycling safe, convenient and attractive. On offer are many lessons to the Western World about the best ways to encourage more cycling.
Litman, T., Blair, R., Demopoulos, B., Eddy, N., Fritzel, A., Laidlaw, D., Maddox, H., Forster, K., 2002, Pedestrian and bicycle planning: A guide to best practice, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Victoria, Canada.
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Litman, T., Blair, R., Demopoulos, B., Eddy, N., Fritzel, A., Laidlaw, D., Maddox, H., Forster, K., 2002, Pedestrian and bicycle planning: A guide to best practice Guide Appendices, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Victoria, Canada.A thorough guide to best practice pedestrian and bicycle planning. This is an excellent resource for anyone wishing to achieve better planning outcomes for pedestrians and cyclists. An extensive list of references allows for convenient research opportunities.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Centre, website, Bikeability checklist
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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.
League of American Bicyclists, 2006, Bicycle Friendly Communities: Enhancing Cities Through Cycling.
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Presents case studies of the top performing US cities, in terms of bicycle friendliness. Highlights the wide range of initiatives possible to improve conditions for cyclists and thereby enhance the liveability of urban environments.
Daniels, S. Wets, G., 2005, Traffic Safety Effects of Roundabouts: A review with Emphasis on Bicyclist's Safety, 18th ICTCT Workshop
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A paper from Hasselt University, Transportation Research Institute (IMOB) on cyclist safety with regard to roundabouts.
Macbeth, A. G., Allen, T. & Barton, A. (2007) Cycle route network planning using GIS, NZ Cycling Conference
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This paper describes how demographic data (population, employment and school rolls), conventional transport planning computer model data, road and cycle route networks and other data can be analysed using the power of a GIS. This tool can be used to recommend where cycle routes and networks should be located to provide better service for more people.
Like any good model, the ARTA and VicRoads cycle route network GIS models improve our understanding of a complex, underlying system (in this case the fabric of our cities) as much as it provides us with specific answers to specific cycle route network questions.
The presentation from the conference View PDF (6.5 MB).
Road Directorate, Best practice to promote cycling and walking
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The ADONIS project was commissioned by the European Commission to a Consortium comprising 7 partners as part of the Fourth Framework Programme. Original title of the project is: Analysis and Development Of New In-sight into Substitution of short car trips by cycling and walking - ADONIS.
The ADONIS project was partly funded by the EU - DG VII Transport RTD Programme, Urban Sector and was co-financed by Danish Transport Council, Danish Ministry of Transport, Municipality of Barcelona, Catalan In-stitute of Road safety, SAINCO TRAFICO S.A., Swedish Transport & Communications Research Board and Belgian Institute for Traffic Safety.
The entire PDF View PDF (45Mb), smaller PDF sections of the document are available on the website.

International Videos

Video's on urban planning that include good public transport, pedestrian and cycle friendly spaces:

Jan Gehl, Danish Urban Planner and Bicycle advocate -
Congestion in Copenhagen - Yikes Bikes
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Jan Gehl - Congested Streets
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Jan Gehl - Livable Places
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Eckerson Jr., C. (2007) "Interview with Enrique Peñalosa" - (12.07 min video) NYC Street Renaissance, StreetFilms.org
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Dr Peñalosa, Ex Mayor of Bogota and bicycle advocate. Dr Peñalosa changed the way Bogota treated its non-driving citizens by restricting automobile use and instituting a bus rapid transit system which now carries a 1/2 million residents daily. Among other improvements: he widened and rebuilt sidewalks, created grand public spaces, and implemented over one hundred miles of bicycle paths.

TOPP Executive Director Mark Gorton discusses with Penalosa some of these transportation achievements and asks what the future could hold for NYC if similar improvements were made here.
Eckerson Jr., C. (2008) "Lessons from Bogota" - (9.58 min video) NYC Street Renaissance, StreetFilms.org
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In the final chapter of our September NYCSR visit to Colombia, where the indefatigable Visit Site was our tour guide, you’ll find lots of tasty video morsels including: riding the comfortable ciclorutas and cycle paths, a visit to a thriving pedestrian-only street where they said it couldn’t be done, a “bollard farm,” mucho footage of the city’s parks and public spaces and comments from the city’s residents. And we couldn’t resist - just a wee bit more dance mania at the Visit Site .
Urban Age India: Enrique Penalosa, Running Cities Debate Part 1
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Urban Age India: How cities are planned Part 2
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Urban Age India: How cities are planned Part 3
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StreetFilms.org (USA) - "Bike Boxes" (2008) (1.45 min video)
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The NYC DOT has been quietly rolling out dozens of bike boxes all over Gotham. It’s really quite remarkable. But since the majority of riders seem not to know what they are or how to use them just yet, StreetFilms thought this would be a fun way to educate cyclists to love and cherish the Bike Box.
StreetFilms.org (USA) - "The Case for Separated Bike Lanes in NYC" (2006) (8.30 min video) NYC Streets Renaissance, StreetFilms
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Eckerson Jr., C. (2007) "Physically Separated Bike Lanes: a short film" (8.30 mins video) NYC Streets Renaissance, StreetFilms
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A short film on why bicycle lanes should be separated.
Eckerson Jr., C. (2007) "Ninth Avenue gets a physically separated bike lane" (1.52 mins video) NYC Streets Renaissance, StreetFilms

With Ninth Avenue getting a physically-separated cycle track, The Visit Site has set the bar high for the nation. Though the innovation is still being rolled out - eventually there’ll be green pedestrian refuges, exclusive light signals for cyclists, signage, stencils and more - that didn’t stop StreetFilms and the cycling denizens of Gotham from using it today. Looks good!

Even not complete, drivers seemed to generally get the idea. Lots of smiling riders; food delivery specialists seemed to really get a real kick out of it.
Bike hire / sharing system in Paris - "Vélo Liberté" or Freedom Bike.
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An overview of the new bike sharing system being rolled out in Paris.
Clark Jones, c. (2007) "A Bicycle Story" (3.00 min video)
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"Portland Considered Most Bicycle-Friendly City in America" (2008) (8.30 min video)
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produced by Democracy Now (USA).
I-Ce & PPQ (2007) "Cycling Friendly Cities" (15 min low resolution video)
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scripted by Enrique Penalosa the film shows cycle friendly cities in Denmark, Paris and Columbia.
Eckerson Jr., C. (2008) "Janette Sadik-Khan's - Sustainable Streets" NY, USA (5.32 mins video) NYC Streets Renaissance, StreetFilms
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NYC DOT Commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, and her team unveiled “Sustainable Streets” - a Strategic Plan for 2008 and beyond - posted highlights of her historic speech to share.