Bicycle Signals

Introduction

The Bicycle Signals Resource Hub is an interactive webpage to assist transportation professionals in the planning, design, and operation of bicycle traffic signals.  This Resource Hub is intended to identify current design guidance and practices related to the use of bicycle signals and provide information on applications in communities throughout the United States, Canada, and internationally.

While red, yellow, and green bicycle symbols in traffic signal faces have been used for many years internationally, prior to 2013, applications in the United States were limited with only a relatively small number of cities experimenting with them. These cities recognized that bicycle signals could enhance safety and guidance for bicyclists traveling through intersections. Since 2013, bicycle signal use has grown significantly as more jurisdictions have come to understand the benefits bicycle signals can provide.

Purpose of Bicycle Signal Resource Hub

The overall goal of the Bicycle Signals Resource Hub is to serve as a reliable and informative resource for the planning, design, implementation, and operational guidance of bicycle signals including design practices that are contained in IA-16, as well as those presented in the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) Urban Bikeway Design Guide, The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, FHWA Separate Bike Lane Planning & Design Guide, as well as various city, county, state, and even international design manuals. Design guidance from international sources is also presented. Finally, the Resource Hub presents information on research conducted and technical articles on bicycle signals.

The Bicycle Signals Resource Hub is broken into the following sections. Click on the sections below to learn more about different bicycle signal resources.

• New - Bicycle Case Studies
  This case study series demonstrates ways in which public agencies have implemented bicycle signals that meet their community’s desires to improve bicycle safety. It is acknowledged that some bicycle signal installations may be inconsistent with the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD); however, each of the case studies presented provides an example of how public agencies are accommodating nonmotorized users such as bicyclists. For specific case study questions, please feel free to reach out to the listed point of contact for the public agency.
  • Montgomery County, MD, USA
  • Nashville, TN, USA
  • Philadelphia, PA, USA
  • Washington, DC, USA
    • Table of Bike Signal Locations in Washington
• United States Bicycle Signal Resources
• Canadian Bicycle Signal Resources
• International Bicycle Signal Resources
• Miscellaneous Bicycle Signal Resources
• Signal Detection for Bicycles
• Signal Timing and Phasing for Bicycles
• Bicycle Signal Inventory Database
• Bicycle Signal Challenges in the United States
• State Bicycle Facility and/or Signal Related Resources

Acknowledgements and Notes

ITE would like to thank and acknowledge the following contributors to this website.

This website and case studies were created by the ITE Pedestrian and Bicycle Standing Committee.

The following volunteers contributed toward the development of this website:

Bob Murphy, KCI Technologies, Inc., Project Lead
Claude Strayer, Fehr & Peers, PBSC Chair
Jessica Brinton, Maricopa County Department of Transportation
Darren Buck, Federal Highway Administration
Josh Green, KCI Technologies, Inc.
Reed Kempton, Maricopa County Department of Transportation
Peter Koonce, Portland, Oregon
Anthony Mariani, Colliers Engineering and Design
Rock Miller, Rock E. Miller & Associates
Sagar Onta, Toole Design Group, LLC
Scott Poska, Alliant Engineering, Inc.
Chris Rome, City of Atlanta Department of Transportation
Mike Sallaberry, SFMTA
Pete Yauch, Iteris, Inc.

The following volunteers reviewed this website:

Dylan Passmore, City of Vancouver
Dr. Tom Urbanik, Kittelson and Associates
Ray Yparraguirre, Iteris

The following volunteers contributed toward the development or review of the case studies contained on this website:

Marvin Ta, Pennoni, Project Lead
Emily Kennedy, Sam Schwartz
Teresa Neal, Barge Design
Claude Strayer, Fehr & Peers, PBSC Chair
Peter Koonce, Portland Bureau of Transportation

Products
ITE does not endorse or recommend any specific manufacturers for bicycle signal products and encourage all transportation professionals to conduct research when selecting products.

Updates

If you have any suggested updates to the Bicycle Signals Resource Hub, please contact Lisa Fontana Tierney, Traffic Engineering Senior Director, at lfontana@ite.org.