Protected bikeways--an idea whose time has come?

The discussion among bicyclists and bicycle advocates in the U.S. about the relative merits of trails, bike lanes, vehicular cycling, and the relative merits of keeping bicyclists separate from motor vehicle traffic vs. integrating bicyclists with other traffic has taken an interesting turn with the introduction of physically separated bikeways or "cycle tracks" in American cities. 

Dearborn Street Cycle Track, photo credit Steven Vance on FlickR, http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesbondsv/8273687652/

These are bikeways that are in and along streets, but which are physically separate from motor vehicle traffic.  They are not quite "sidepaths"--basically glorified, widened sidewalks where bicyclists are encouraged to ride.  They're not bike lanes either--bike lanes are separated from motor vehicle traffic only by a line or lane marking.

Protected bikeways are in the street, but there is some kind of physical barrier between the cyclists and other traffic.  Just as important, the protected bikeway gets special treatment at each intersection, with special phases of the traffic lights and other features that make the protect bikeway work for cyclists.

This type of facility has been opposed by many vehicular cyclists, but with the installation of protected bike lanes in New York City, Chicago, Washington DC, and several other American cities, opinion is starting to shift.  Many bicyclists and advocates are now starting to recognize that protected bikeways--in the right location and with the right design--are a real benefit to bicycling and bicyclists.

The California Bicycle Coalition recently had this to say:

If we are serious about transforming our communities through bicycling - if we're serious about the benefits of health, safety, economy, and joy that we claim bicycling can bring - then we need to build the infrastructure that will attract millions more Californians to two wheels. We need miles and miles of bikeways that provide physical protection from car traffic and are designed with comfort and convenience in mind. A century of experience around the world tells us that the development of protected bikeways is the only way that we can expect to attract millions more people in the modern United States to give bicycling a try.

It is true that for many of us who ride today, all we need to keep us safe and happy in the saddle is adherence to the principles of vehicular cycling - riding our bikes on the same roads as cars, with the same rights and under the same rules. The California Bicycle Coalition has taught more people to ride safely in traffic, and certified more bike safety trainers, than any other California-based organization.

However, we can't achieve our mission without a revolution in infrastructure. Sometimes many so-called protected bikeways are designed poorly, failing to improve safety and imposing such inconveniences that they will never attract many more people to bicycling.  Usually, though, protected bikeways are safe and convenient, and they are cheap compared to other transportation infrastructure.

A recent literature review on the safety of protected bikeways was just completed by Beth Thomas, MA (Urban Panning) and Michelle DeRobertis, MS (Civil Engineering), PE. It's available from the Transportation Research Board using this link.  An international review of infrastructure programs and policies to increase cycling authored by Drs. John Pucher, Jennifer Dill, and Susan Handy and published in Preventive Medicine indicates the importance of infrastructure.

The conclusion of these papers is clear: protected bikeways work.

15th Street Cycle Track in Washington, DC. Photo by Elvert Barnes on FlickR, http://www.flickr.com/photos/perspective/6919215229/

The following are some of the success stories about protected bikeways in the U.S. and around the world. 

San Francisco experienced a 71% increase in bicycle ridership on its protected bikeways.

Early results from New York's dedicated bikeways show crash reductions and ridership increases.

Bikes Belong is investing in the development of networks of protected bikeways in six North American cities.

This study by the Rails to Trails Conservancy discusses four kinds of innovative bikeways in California, and their impact on safety and ridership. 

This proposal for research includes several valuable citations on the topic of the safety of separated bikeways.

Long Beach, CA found its protected bikeways cut bike accidents to 20% their previous number while increasing the number of bicyclists by one third. Vehicle accidents dropped nearly in half, much more than the 12% reduction in vehicle traffic.

Missouri communities are starting to contemplate protected bikeways now--at least one is slated for installation soon in Kansas City and others are under consideration.

So what do you think?  Protected bikeways--good or bad?  Something MIssouri advocacy organizations should be working for or not? Leave a comment and let us know what you think.

Photo Credits:

• Dearborn Street Cycle Track in Chicago. Photo by Steven Vance on FlickR. License:  CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. 
• 15th Street Cycle Track in Washington, DC.  Photo by Elvert Barnes on FlickR. License: CC BY-SA 2.0.