18.6 Maintenance, Operations, and Work Zone
18.6.1 Maintenance Considerations
As discussed in
, a roadway can and should be located and designed to complement its environment and serve as a catalyst to environmental improvement. Projects which add bicycle facilities should be evaluated for opportunities to achieve these goals.
The large majority of bicycle crashes are due to falls and collisions due to surface defects and crashes with fixed objects located within bike operating spaces. E-Scooter riders have higher rates of injuries compared to bicyclists due to falls associated with pavement defects such as potholes or cracks, or from hitting sign posts on sidewalks or curbs.
Maintenance considerations should factor into the design approach for each bikeway and long-term maintenance programs should seek to proactively mitigate these issues to reduce crashes.
Seal coat projects must be properly swept for cyclists, including on the shoulders. Designers should also consider how paint markings affect cyclist safety over an interim period after a seal coat prior to placement of more permanent thermoplastic and prefabricated markings for cyclists.
Street sweepers and plows should be able to access and clean bikeway to minimize or eliminate the need for hand-sweeping to clear bike lane debris. On separated bike lanes this can be a challenge where the width is narrow. If the bikeway clear space widths are not able to accommodate sweeping and snow removal equipment, the vertical elements should be mountable or designed so that the maintenance equipment can access and clean the bike lane and that the vehicle and vertical elements are not damaged.
Alternatively, investment in smaller equipment may be appropriate, or agreements with other agencies or organizations that have smaller equipment can be discussed. Designers should consider the following factors when planning for bikeway maintenance:
- Bikeways along drainageways should be swept promptly following large storm events;
- Low points on the bikeway should be kept at a minimum, or adequate drainage should be provided to keep stormwater flow outside the operating space of bicyclists during small storms;
- Repair from utility cuts should cover the entire width of the bike lane to prevent uneven riding surfaces;
- Vertical objects such as flexible delineator posts should be placed with at least 1-ft offset from adjacent travel lanes to reduce the frequency of replacement. Placement at intersections and driveways should carefully review vehicle turning movements; and
- Maintenance and operation crews should plan on replacing signs placed in the buffer zone, refreshing pavement markings, and trimming any adjacent vegetation on a regular basis.
18.6.2 Temporary Traffic Control for Bicyclists / Maintenance of Traffic
Construction projects often disrupt the public’s mobility and access. Proper planning for bicyclists through and along work zones is as important as planning for motor vehicle traffic. The
states that the needs and control of all road users (motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians) through a temporary traffic control zone shall be an essential part of highway construction, utility work, maintenance operations, and the management of traffic incidents. Bicyclists should be expected on all roads unless prohibited (e.g., limited access highways), therefore work zone treatments such as temporary lane restrictions, detours, and other traffic control measures should be designed to accommodate bicyclists. Designers should incorporate the following recommendations into project construction plans:
- Maintenance of bicycle travel should be included whenever the need for temporary traffic control is being considered. Designers and construction personnel should determine how to maintain existing bikeways during construction. Options include accommodating bicyclists through the work zone or providing a suitable alternate route with the least amount of detour necessary. It is preferable for the alternate route to direct bicyclists to a bikeway that is equal to or lower in traffic stress than the existing route.
- Similar to other vehicular traffic, work zones should be compatible with bicycle travel. Work zone concerns for bicyclists may include road or path closures, sudden changes in elevation, construction equipment or materials, and other unexpected conditions. Accommodation in the work zone may result in the need for the construction of temporary facilities, including paved surfaces, structures, signs, and signals. The includes appropriate mode-specific detour guidelines in the section on temporary traffic controls. Where guidelines do not adequately cover a situation specific to bicycle use, designers should apply general vehicular guidelines and professional judgment.
- Work zone signs, construction vehicles, and other related construction materials should not be stored or placed within bikeways or on sidewalks that are open for use. Workers who routinely perform maintenance and construction operations should be aware of these considerations.
For sections of separated bike lanes or shared use paths which are closed to bicyclists, advanced warning is necessary to allow bicyclists sufficient time and space to transition out of the bikeway. It is preferable for the transition to be kept as short as possible. This may require construction of temporary curb ramps to bicyclists to a street or sidewalk. It is also preferable to maintain physical separation from traffic where feasible, as separated bike lanes and shared use paths often attract people who are not comfortable operating in mixed traffic. In situations where higher volumes of bicyclists will have to share the lane with traffic, and those bicyclists are likely to include children, consideration should be given to providing a flagger to assist in the management of traffic flow. See
for additional Temporary Traffic Control Guidance.