The Dilemmas of Bicycle Planning

Schimek, Paul · 1999 · ROSA P / John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)

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Summary

This paper identifies and analyzes eight critical dilemmas hindering effective bicycle planning in the United States, arguing that while bicycling is broadly supported in principle, practical implementation is obstructed by misconceptions, professional neglect, and flawed infrastructure policies. The author contends that overcoming these barriers requires shifting focus from merely building facilities to changing public opinion, enforcing traffic laws, and mandating bicycle education. The analysis is structured around eight specific dilemmas. First, public perception diverges from reality: many cyclists lack basic traffic skills, fear overtaking collisions (which are rare) while ignoring intersection dangers, and incorrectly believe they are not legal road users. Second, transportation professionals neglect bicycling, failing to treat the bicycle as a "design vehicle" in road engineering, which results in narrow lanes, hazardous drain grates, and traffic signals insensitive to bicycles. Third, the routes most useful for transportation—urban arterials—are often inhospitable due to heavy traffic and narrow lanes, yet widening these roads is politically difficult due to parking and right-of-way constraints. Fourth, transportation funding prioritizes capital construction over maintenance and enforcement, with the 1991 ISTEA act directing the vast majority of bicycle funds toward off-highway paths rather than on-road improvements. Fifth, law enforcement routinely ignores dangerous bicyclist violations, partly due to low priority and advocacy arguments that enforcement should wait until "safe facilities" are built. Sixth, designated facilities often create unintended hazards; paths are frequently too narrow for mixed use and dangerous at roadway crossings, while bicycle lanes can encourage cyclists to ride too far right at intersections, increasing collision risks with turning motorists. Seventh, advocates prioritize facility construction over education, relying on a classification system that assumes most riders cannot handle traffic without special lanes. The author argues this ignores the fact that basic vehicular cycling skills are learnable and essential for navigating the existing street network. The significance of this work lies in its challenge to the prevailing "facility-first" approach to bicycle planning. The author concludes that sustainable bicycle integration requires treating bicycles as design vehicles in all road designs, enforcing traffic laws for both cyclists and motorists, and implementing widespread bicycle training programs. By addressing skill deficits and legal misconceptions rather than relying solely on infrastructure, planners can improve safety and encourage broader bicycle use.

Key finding

Bicycle planning is hindered by a disconnect between legal rights and public perception, inadequate roadway design that ignores bicycle dimensions, and a funding bias toward off-road paths that fails to improve on-road safety or enforce traffic laws.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Topics

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• cyclist safety