Bike lanes indicate a preferential or exclusive space for bicycle travel along an arterial street. Bike lanes have been found to provide more consistent separation between bicyclists and passing motorists. Marking bicycle lanes can also benefit pedestrians—as turning motorist slow and yield more to bicyclists, they will also be doing so for pedestrians.

Bike lanes are typically designated by striping and/or signing. Colored pavement (e.g., blue or red surfaces) is also used in some locations, although it is not yet an accepted MUTCD standard. If the addition of bike lanes results in fewer motor vehicle lanes, safety may be enhanced for pedestrians crossing the street. Bicycle lanes also provide a buffer between motor vehicle traffic and pedestrians when sidewalks are immediately adjacent to the curb. On high-speed, high-volume roads, it may be more appropriate to provide a multi-use path to physically separate both bicyclists and pedestrians from motor vehicle traffic. However, the application of this treatment requires that care be taken to minimize the conflicts between bicyclists and pedestrians.