Abstract Manager

Over the last five years raised bike paths, commonly referred to as raised cycle tracks, have become an increasingly common form of bicycle infrastructure in communities across Canada. Raised bike paths have proven to be an effective solution for constrained rights of way by offering space saving measures while providing a protected space for those cycling.

The implementation of raised bike paths has proven challenging for other users, particularly members of the vision loss community. White cane as well as guide dog users have demonstrated that many delineation treatments are not detectable, leaving many users unsure of where to walk. Another challenge has been knowing where it is safe to cross a bike path, whether to access an intersection or to a transit top on a bus boarding island. 

To address this accessibility deficit, staff from The City of Calgary and consultants Martinson Golly have developed design guidance recommendations for raised bike paths and bus boarding islands that you may want to explore in your own community. In this session, we will:

• Explain how existing raised cycle track designs have fallen short,
• Summarize national guidance for bicycle facility design and accessible design standards,
• Share engagement feedback from members and advocates of the accessibility community, as well as with design, engineering, operational, and maintenance professionals, and
• Explore tactile, auditory, and visual elements in the improved design guidance recommendations.