Ins and Outs of Bike Lanes
When it comes to bike lanes, design matters. The most important distinction is whether a bike lane is protected or unprotected, as this has a large impact on safety and use. The Andover Complete Streets initiative is explicit in that the goal is to provide streets that are safe for all modes of transportation for users of all ages and abilities. Only "protected" bicycle lanes are appropriate for all ages and abilities, and choosing to implement unprotected lanes will mean that we fail to meet our Complete Streets goals before we've even started.
Protected Bike Lanes
provides a permanent, physical barrier between bicycles and motor vehicle travel lanes, typically a curb (aka "sidewalk-level"), flex posts, or parked cars (aka "parking protected")
meets Andover's "all ages and abilities" criteria for Complete Streets
has been shown to reduce fatality rates by up to 75%, and make streets safer for all road users, including drivers
induces more bicycle use and supports Andover's Climate Action Plan goal to increase bicycle usage and decrease car usage for short local trips
supported by Andover's Vision Zero policy, which calls for street design that minimizes inherent conflicts and accounts for occasional user error
encourages bicyclists of all ages and abilities, particularly kids or elderly, to ride in the bike lane rather than on the sidewalk
gold standard sidewalk-level cycle tracks provide dedicated space for each mode of transportation to minimize conflicts
Unprotected Bike Lanes
provides no physical protection between bicycles and motor vehicles and relies on good driver and bicyclist behavior to prevent crashes
does not meet Andover's "all ages and abilities" criteria for Complete Streets
some unprotected bicycle infrastructure (shared lane markings) actually decrease safety for bicyclists
does not meet Andover's Vision Zero policy, as it relies on drivers and bicyclists never making an error
discourages traffic-averse or high-risk bicyclists from using the bike lane, who instead ride on the sidewalk for physical protection
"paint is not protection"
may be appropriate on low-speed, low-volume neighborhood roads where observed speeds are below 25mph
Types of protected bike lanes:
"sidewalk-level" lanes or cycle tracks (both one-way or two-way)
shared use paths (which provide permanent physical protection, but do not give pedestrians and bicyclists their own dedicated space)
on-street protected bike lanes (with protection provided via flexible posts, curbs, parked cars, or other permanent barriers)
Types of unprotected bike lanes:
shared lanes (or "sharrows")
on-street bike lanes with no painted buffer
on-street bike lanes with a painted horizontal buffer (aka "buffered bike lanes")
