Appendix A

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Appendix B

WVDOT
Bicycle Facility
Design Standards

WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS

DESIGN DIRECTIVE

BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN ACCOMMODATION

February 3, 1998

The goal of the West Virginia Division of Highways (WV DOH) is to design, construct, and maintain a safe, efficient, and economical highway system for the taxpayer. While motor vehicle traffic is the major concern in performing this task, bicyclists and pedestrians must also be given proper consideration.

It is the policy of the WV DOH that during the design of all highway construction projects consideration will be given, as outlined herein, for the incorporation of facilities for the accommodation of bicyclists and pedestrians.

________________________________

James E. Sothen, P.E.

Director, Engineering Division

Attachment

DEFINITIONS

Bicycle Facilities: A general term denoting improvements and provisions made by public agencies to accommodate or encourage bicycling. This includes new or improved lanes, paths or shoulders for use by bicyclists as well as traffic control devices, shelters, and parking facilities for bicycles.

Bikeway: Any road, path or way which, in some manner, is specifically designated as being open to bicycle travel, regardless of whether such facilities are designated for the exclusive use of bicycles or are to be shared with other transportation modes. NOTE: All public highways in West Virginia are open to bicycle traffic with the exception of fully controlled access highways.

Bicycle Lane: A portion of the roadway which has been designated by striping, signing, and pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of bicyclists.

Bicycle Path: A bikeway physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier and either within the highway right of way or within an independent right-of- way. NOTE: West Virginia is currently developing an extensive system of trails on abandoned railroad right-of-way which are intended for use as bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways.

Bicycle Route: A segment of a system of bikeways designated by the jurisdiction having authority with appropriate directional and informational markers, with or without specific bicycle route number.

Trails: Facilities that may be used by, but not limited to, non-motorized vehicles, horseback riders, cross-country skiers, and pedestrians.

BICYCLES

During the environmental review and/or planning process, the WV DOH will assess the need and potential for the development of bicycle facilities as a part of the project.

If it is determined that bicycle facilities should be considered, the environmental documents shall include recommendations as to the type of bicyclist(s), as well as the type of facility to be considered in the design process. The final decision for the inclusion of bicycle facilities in the project will be made during the design process and will be accommodated by one or more of the following methods:

• Designation of the project as a Bikeway or a Bicycle Route;
• Inclusion of a Bicycle Lane in the design of the project in urban areas; or
• Designation of or the inclusion of a Bicycle Path in the design of the project.
• Sidewalks should not be designated for bicycle use.

Design Bicyclist

To address the needs of bicyclists of various skill levels, the WV DOH shall use a classification of bicyclists. This system is a modification of the existing classification system used by AASHTO. This system is described as follows:

Group A - Advanced Bicyclists: This group consists of experienced riders who can operate under most traffic conditions, and compose the majority of current users of collector and arterial highway systems. Group A travel is best facilitated by:

• direct access to destinations, usually via the highway system;
• the opportunity to operate at maximum speed, with minimum delay; and
• sufficient operating space on the roadway or shoulder to reduce the need for the bicyclist or motor vehicle operator to change position when passing.

Group B - Basic Bicyclists: This group consists of new or casual adult or teenage riders who are less confident and/or less competent (than Group A riders) to operate in traffic without special provisions for bicyclists. Group B riders prefer comfortable access to destinations, by a direct route or bicycle facility, which they perceive as safe.

Group C - Child Bicyclists: This group consists of pre-teen riders whose roadway use is initially monitored by their parents. Group C riders prefer the following:

• access to key destinations surrounding residential areas, including schools, recreation and shopping facilities, or other residential areas;
• highways with low motor vehicle speeds and volumes; and
• well defined separation of bicycles and motor vehicles, such as separate bicycle path.

These classifications are utilized in the "design bicyclist" concept, in which the WV DOH accommodation procedures are focused on the expected user of a facility. Generally, Group A bicyclists are best accommodated by the construction of Bicycle Lanes or Bikeways. In most situations, due to the similarity in the level of expertise, Groups B and C may be combined to produce a Group B/C design bicyclist, which generally will be best accommodated by a network of independent bicycle paths.

Design Standards

The following design standards have been developed for bicycle accommodation:

Bicycle Routes or Bikeways on Expressways

• Bicycles to use right shoulder, exit, and entrance ramps;
• Minimum width of right shoulder with rumble strips - 6.5'*;
• Minimum width of right shoulder without rumble strips - 5'*;
• Minimum width of right shoulder on bridges - 6';
• Discontinue rumble strips in shoulder taper areas;
• Drainage grates must be perpendicular to the traveled path of bicycles;
• Bridge expansion joints must be bicycle safe on the right shoulder (no exposed finger dams).

Independent, Two-way Bicycle Paths

• Minimum width - 8';
• Preferred width - 10' with 2' graded shoulders;
• Minimum vertical clearance - 8';
• Preferred vertical clearance - 10';
• Minimum separation from roadway - 5' or separate with a 4.5' high barrier;
• Cross slope - 2%; and
• Maximum superelevation - 5%.

For additional information on the design of bicycle facilities, see the AASHTO publication Guidelines for the Development of Bicycle Facilities (1991).

PEDESTRIANS

During the environmental review process, the WV DOH will assess the need and potential for the development of pedestrian walkway facilities as a part of the project.

If it is determined that pedestrian walkway facilities should be considered, the environmental documents will include recommendations as to the type of facility to be constructed.

Rural Projects

The future need for pedestrian walkways on rural projects will likely be met by the development of the system of trails previously discussed in the "Definitions" section of this document.

On rural bridge construction projects, a sidewalk shall be designed as part of the bridge if sufficient pedestrian activity exists and there is not a suitable pedestrian crossing reasonably close to the bridge. In the case of bridge replacement projects, a sidewalk shall be designed as a part of the bridge if the existing structure had a sidewalk or if sufficient pedestrian activity exists and there is not a suitable pedestrian crossing reasonably close to the bridge.

Urban Projects

Sidewalks will be included in the design of urban projects when either or the following conditions are met:

• The design of the project eliminates an existing sidewalk; or
• By written agreement, the local municipality requests the addition of the sidewalk to the project and agrees to maintain the sidewalk in the future.