Title: Should state DOTs prefer bicycle lanes or wide curb lanes?
Description: This report investigates collisions between bicycles and motor vehicles to ascertain their relationship (if any) to a Bicycle Lane or Wide Curb Lane for the purpose of informing State Departments of Transportation. A literature review describes progress of Federal legislation supporting bicycle travel and implementation of bicycle facilities, their application in various jurisdictions, agency liability, and the debate between advocates of Wide Curb Lanes and Bicycle Lanes. A survey of DOT officials nationwide reveals the importance of available space and input from municipalities in designing bicycle facilities. An examination of fatal bicyclist/motorist collisions in Arizona suggests strong relationships to human error and "failure to yield" infractions, and negligible relationships to road conditions or mechanical failure. Based on the evidence, this report cannot determine that a relationship exists between collisions, Bicycle Lanes, or Wide Curb Lanes. Further investigation of this topic is recommended.
Subjects: Traffic accidents, Curbs, Bicycle lanes, Roads, Evaluation, Bicycle trails, Design and construction
Places: Arizona