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Calcimator

Bike Lane Design Calculator

Determine recommended bike lane type, width, and buffer from traffic speed, volume, and roadway conditions using NACTO and AASHTO guidelines.

Inputs

mph
ADT
ft
bikes/day

Results

Recommended Facility

Buffered Bike Lane

Lane Width6 ft
Buffer Width2 ft
Total Width (one side)8 ft
Total Width (both sides)16 ft
Available Width24 ft
FeasibilityYes — fits within roadway
Level of Traffic Stress2
LTS DescriptionModerate — comfortable for most adults
Min Lane Width5
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter Posted Speed, Average Daily Traffic, and Roadway Width.
  2. Set On-Street Parking, No, and Yes.
  3. Adjust Daily Bike Volume, Truck Traffic as needed.
  4. Review the Recommended Facility result.
  5. Use Lane Width (ft) and Buffer Width (ft) to inform your decision.

What each input means

Posted Speed
Posted speed limit on the roadway. Higher speeds require more bicycle protection.
Average Daily Traffic
Average daily traffic volume on the street in both directions.
Roadway Width
Total curb-to-curb pavement width available.
On-Street Parking
Whether on-street parking exists adjacent to the bike lane (adds door zone buffer).
Daily Bike Volume
Estimated daily bicycle volume on the corridor.
Truck Traffic
Percentage of heavy vehicles. Higher truck traffic may require wider lanes.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Posted Speed = 35, Average Daily Traffic = 5000, Roadway Width = 44, On-Street Parking = 0 = 6 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Recommended Facility
    Buffered Bike Lane = Buffered Bike Lane
  3. Calculate Lane Width
    6 = 6
  4. Calculate Buffer Width
    2 = 2

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