Different bicycle riders may have varying tolerances associated with the importance of the individual planning principles outlined above. indicates the array of potential bicycle riders that should be considered when scoping and designing a roadway project.

Additionally, as discussed in , micromobility users must share facilities with other users of the transportation system and should be expected to operate within bikeways where provided. Where bike lanes are not provided, these users will operate within shared travel lanes or sidewalks which can raise safety concerns for users who might be apprehensive about walking, riding, or driving alongside these devices. Some micromobility companies advise their users not to ride on the sidewalks which relegates their users to using bikeways or sharing motor vehicle lanes. To mitigate these safety concerns bicycle networks can be expanded to also serve micromobility use.

Research over the last decade has evaluated how to classify the general population into different types of bicyclists. This research confirms that only a relatively small percentage of people can be classified as comfortable bicyclists in mixed traffic, and that a large majority of people prefer some level of separation from higher-volume, higher-speed motorized traffic. As such, in many jurisdictions across the United States, the common target design user are those who are interested in riding but concerned about safety (“Interested but Concerned” bicyclists) as this is the largest group of potential bikeway users among the general population. According to research, these bicyclists would ride more if they felt safer and, thus, are more likely to take short trips, avoiding busier arterial roadways. “Interested but Concerned” bicyclists prefer separation from vehicles and have a lower tolerance for traffic stress than more confident riders. Accommodating these users will also accommodate a wide spectrum of micromobility users.

To maximize the potential for bicycling as a viable transportation option, it is important to design facilities to meet the needs of the “Interested but Concerned” bicyclist user profile. Bicycle facilities which meet the needs of the “Interested but Concerned” bicyclist will generally meet the needs of all bicyclists, therefore they are considered “All Ages and Abilities” bicycle facilities because they maximize potential use. In general, more separation from motorized traffic is desirable to serve a greater number and type of users more safely.

An exemption to this bikeway selection approach are situations where bicyclists are operating in large groups, or higher speed bicyclists are likely operating on a sidepath. In these situations, it is acceptable to provide multiple facility types (e.g., a wide outside lane and sidepath, or a bicycle lane and sidepath) where practicable. In all locations with bikeways, there still may remain individual bicyclist who prefer to operate at higher speeds (typically greater than 20 mph) who may prefer to operate in the travel lane.