The vision of the 1998 Federal Highway Administration National Strategic Plan is to create the best transportation system in the world, a transportation system that is safe, efficient, and intermodal, allowing all Americans to have access within and beyond their communities. This transportation system will have significantly reduced crashes, delays, and congestion; roads that protect ecosystems and air quality; and will accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists.
One method of accommodating bicycle travel is to develop or improve roadways for shared use by both motor vehicles and bicycles. This document demonstrates the application of the Bicycle Compatibility Index (BCI) to evaluate the capability of urban and suburban roadway sections to accommodate both motorists and bicyclists. The BCI methodology will allow practitioners to evaluate existing facilities and determine and possible improvements and to determine operational and geometric requirements for new facilities.
This report should be of interest to State and local bicycle coordinators, transportation engineers, and planners involved in the design of bicycle facilities within highway system.
A.George Ostensen, Director
Office of Safety and Traffic Operations,
Research and Development
Notice
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. This report does not constitute standard, specification, or regulation.
The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade and manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the object of the document.