City of Oxnard - Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Appendices

Appendix A | Design Guidelines
Additional Discussion - Colored Bicycle Lanes in Conflict Areas
Guidance
Colored bicycle lanes can be used in conflict areas or locations where motorists and bicyclists must cross each other’s path (e.g., at
intersections or merge areas). Bicyclists are especially vulnerable at locations where the volume of conflicting vehicle traffic is high,
and where the vehicle/bicycle conflict area is long. Colored bicycle lanes typically extend through the entire bicycle/vehicle conflict
zone (e.g., through the entire intersection, or through the transition zone) where motorists cross a bicycle lane to enter a dedicated
right-turn lane.
Although colored bicycle lanes are not an official standard in California at this time, they continue to be successfully used around the
country. Portland, Oregon, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Mammoth Lakes, California, and Tempe,
Arizona use colored bicycle lanes in select locations. This treatment typically includes accompanying signage alerting motorists of
vehicle/bicycle conflict points. Portland’s ‘Blue Bicycle Lane’ report found that significantly more motorists yielded to bicyclists and
slowed or stopped before entering the conflict area after the application of the colored pavement.
In areas of high vehicle traffic, thermoplastic application (as opposed to paint) is recommended. At high volume intersections, the
thermoplastic treatment has shown to significantly prolong the life of the marking, thus off-setting the additional cost for the
treatment by lowering the frequency of required maintenance.
Advantages of colored bicycle lanes at conflict points:
• Draws attention to conflict areas
• Results in more consistent yielding behavior by motorists
• Emphasizes expectation of bikes in the road
Disadvantages / potential hazards:
• Non-standard treatment
• Maintenance
• Slipping hazard
A-52 | Alta Planning + Design