Facility Types

Also known as conventional bike lanes, these are defined as a portion of the roadway that has been designated by striping, signage, and other pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of cyclists. Cycle lanes are typically on the right side of other vehicle lanes in the same direction or left side on one-way streets. Cyclists may have to leave the lane to pass other riders, to make turns, or to avoid obstacles.

These are exclusive cycle facilities physically separated from motor traffic and distinct from the sidewalks. They provide the highest degree of comfort and safety for cyclists. Streets with cycle tracks have a lower injury rate than comparable streets without dedicated facilities.¹ Protected cycle tracks achieve separation through raised buffers or parking lanes while raised cycle tracks are vertically separated to either meet the sidewalk-level or be a half-a-step between the sidewalk and the street level. Materials, curbs, or bollards help to identify the space and prevent intrusion by motor vehicles.

These are streets where cycles share the road space with vehicles, and cars are considered guests. Speeds in these streets should not exceed 30 km/h. Design treatments manage motor vehicle speed and volume by calming or restricting through-traffic, while connectivity remains for cyclists. Cycle streets can play a key role in cycle networks, complementing and providing connections between other cycle facilities.