Currently, no methodology is widely accepted by engineers, planners, or bicycle co-ordinators that will allow them to determine how compatible a roadway is for allowing efficient operation of both bicycles and motor vehicles. Determining how existing traffic operations and geometric conditions impact a bicyclist's decision to use or not use a specific roadway is the first step in determining the bicycle compatibility index (BCI) that could be used by practitioners to evaluate the capability of specific roadways to accommodate both motorists and bicyclists. The BCI methodology was developed for urban and suburban roadway segments (i.e., midblock locations that are exclusive of major intersections) and incorporated those variables which bicyclists typically use to assess the "bicycle friendliness" of a roadway (e.g., curb lane width, traffic volume, and vehicle speeds). The developed tool will allow practitioners to evaluate existing facilities in order to determine what improvements may be required as well as determine the geometric and operational requirements for new facilities. This report focuses on the application of the BCI methodology and the use of the Microsoft Excel workbook on the enclosed diskette. The report includes a brief summary of the model development, data requirements for using the model, a detailed discussion of the workbook, and numerous examples applied to real-world problems. (A)
Abstract