C-Tier: Works Only Under the Right Conditions
Buffered Bike Lanes
Benefits:
Dedicated space for bikes
Horizontal separation from cars
Challenges:
Nothing but paint for protection
Local Examples
Valley View Rd (partial)
Normandale Rd
Notes:
If space is already claimed for the buffer, a vertical element (ex. bollards) should be added to make it a protected bike lane
Constrained (Standard) Bike Lanes
Benefits:
Dedicated space for bikes
Challenges:
Nothing but paint for protection
No room for error for riders
Provides comfort for only experienced riders
Local Examples
Valley View Rd (partial)
Interlachen Blvd
Blake Rd
Tracy Ave
Vernon Ave
W 70th St
Notes
These should only be used on low traffic and low speed (<25 mph) streets
A majority of our current infrastructure is constrained lanes on busy, high speed streets
Bike Boulevards
Benefits:
Provides a well known, low stress route through residential streets
Challenges:
Dependent on other types of traffic calming to be effective
Local Examples:
Grimes Ave S
Notes
Marking a street with arrows and bikes does nothing to improve safety on its own. However, when paired with effective traffic calming measures, these can be great biking infrastructure. Effective traffic calming measures include: speed humps, curb extensions and modal filters.