4.2
Bicycle facilities
Providing separated, off road, dedicated cycle facilities can be very expensive and most of the existing road networks don’t have the land space and capacity for separated facilities. In some areas, footpaths can be widened so that shared facilities can be provided but uptake on those paths will be dictated by demand, directness of travel and budgets. On road cycle facilities provide a better level of connectivity along desirable routes, however these facilities are dependent on whether there is enough available road space to be able to provide adequate separation of vehicles from cyclists. Because bicycles mostly rely on human pedal power to travel forward, they can be susceptible to steep changes in grade so for cycling to be attractive to more people road grades need to be considered when choosing network routes. Bicycle facilities that encourage tourism is increasing as more people are wanting to experience cycling as part of their holidays. Research states in 2019 that 2.2% of domestic overnight visitors went cycling and three-quarters of people cycling on a domestic holiday did it in a regional destination. Should bicycle facilities be designed to support tourtist attarctors then they are more likely to encourage people to visit these areas. Because cyclists can travel on-road, they are subject to the same road rules as all other vehicles. This means that they require some specialised treatments at high risk locations such as intersections and rail level crossings. Cyclists travelling to work require end of trip facilities such as lockers, bike storage and shower / changing rooms to be available. Table 4.1 shows the different types of cycle path facilities. Table 4-1 Types of bicycle facility Off Road
Separated Path
Provides separation from vehicles and pedestrians and are exclusively for cyclists. They are typically two way and located away from main traffic areas where space is available. They are generally expensive to construct and require considerable land.
Off Road
Shared Path
Provides separation from vehicles (except at intersections) and allows access for pedestrians and cyclists to use the same facility. There is no physical separation for cyclists and pedestrians, however sometimes a painted line delineating the cycle and pedestrian areas (usually for high volume areas). Shared paths are not always direct and more experienced cyclists may choose to ride on the road. Shared paths vary in width with a desired minimum width of 2.0m depending on space and demand.
Updated April 2021 │ MidCoast Council Towns & Villages PAMP & Bike PLan Page 10
