18.3.13 Bikeway Lighting
Fixed-source lighting can improve visibility along bikeways at night or under other dark conditions. Lighting can also greatly improve bicyclists’ ability to detect surface irregularities under such conditions, even when their bicycles are properly equipped with headlamps. Most bicycle trips occur during daylight hours, yet a relatively high incidence of crashes occur at night and dusk/dawn on roadways without bikeways. Nationally, 48 percent of bicyclist fatalities and 28 percent of bicyclist injuries occurred during the 12-hour period between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Provision of lighting should be considered where night-time use of bikeways is anticipated and especially on:
- Bikeways that provide convenient connections to transit stops and stations, schools, universities, shopping, and employment areas;
- Under vehicular bridges, underpasses, tunnels, or locations with limited visibility;
- Along bridges used by bicycles and pedestrians;
- Along high use portions of bikeways that lead to areas with frequent evening events;
- At intersections where bikeways cross;
- At trail intersections with higher volume roadways; and
- At major trail entrances.
Designers should see
for information and guidance on the design of pedestrian scale lighting and appropriate illumination levels. Bikeway lighting should follow the same principles.