3.4C Delineator-protected bike lanes

Operation

Delineator-protected bike lanes may be designed for one-way or two-way bicycle traffic.

Gutter pan considerations

Delineator-protected bike lanes directly adjacent to the curb should generally include a minimum of 4 feet of smooth, ridable surface, excluding any adjacent gutter pan. In very constrained right of way where every consideration has been taken to narrow roadway street zones, 3.5’ of smooth, ridable surface can be used for short stretches.

Buffer width

3’ or wider buffers between the bike lane and traffic lanes are preferred. 2’ buffers can be used for very space-constrained environments provided the location is not adjacent to a parking lane and the bike lane and buffer area generally maintain a minimum combined width of 8’ (including the gutter).

Combined dimensions with parking

The total minimum combined dimensions of the bike lane, buffer, and parking lane for a one-way parking protected bikeway is:

1. 16’ along streets with lower traffic volumes and less parking demand, with 15’ allowed for very short stretches. 
2. 17’ along busier streets to prevent parking encroachments in the bike lane.

Delineator spacing

Delineators should be centered in the buffer area and spaced at increments between 10’ and 30,’ with closer spacing where vehicular encroachment into the bike lane is anticipated.

Bike lane width

Wider bike lanes are preferred in environments with higher bicycle volumes to support passing.

Buffer width

Wider buffers are preferred on corridors with a high percentage of heavy vehicles, established loading zones, and where adjacent parking utilization and/or turnover is high.

Parking lane considerations

1. When a parking lane is located on the same side of the street as a delineator-protected bike lane, the parking lanes should be located between the bike lane buffer and travel lane, sometimes referred to as “floating” parking. 
2. To prevent doors from encroaching into the bike lane, the buffer between the bike lane and parking lane is recommended to be a minimum of 3’ to prevent doors from opening into the bike lane operating area, although 2.5’-wide buffers can be considered in for short stretches in constrained right of way where every consideration has been taken to narrow roadway street zones. 

ADA considerations

Designers should implement strategies to support ADA access to parking spots, bus stops, and Metro Mobility drop off points along protected bike lanes. Additional details will be forthcoming in a future update to the Street Design Guide.

Intersection guidance

See also bikeway intersection design guidance.