Roadway Narrowing:
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Roadway narrowing can be achieved in several different ways:
- Lane widths can be reduced (to 3.0 or 3.4 m [10 or 11 ft]) and excess
asphalt striped with a bicycle lane or shoulder.
- Travel lanes can be removed (see #10).
- On-street parking lanes can be added.
- Curbs can be moved to narrow the cross section and extend the width
of sidewalks and landscape areas.
This can reduce vehicle speeds along a roadway section and enhance movement
and safety for pedestrians. Bicycle travel will also be enhanced and bicyclist
safety improved when bicycle lanes are added.
| • Multiple benefits of lower vehicle speeds, increased safety, and redistributing
space to other users. |
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• Bicyclists must be safely accommodated. Bike lanes or wide curb lanes
are needed if motor vehicle volumes and/or speeds are high.
• Road narrowing must consider school bus and emergency service access,
and truck volumes.
• Evaluate whether narrowing may encourage traffic to divert to other local
streets in the neighborhood. |
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| Adding striped shoulders or on-street bike lanes can cost as little as $620 per kilometer ($1,000 per mile) if the old paint does not need to be changed. The cost for restriping a kilometer of street to bike lanes or reducing the number of lanes to add on-street parking is $3,100 to $6,200 ($5,000 to $10,000 per mile), depending on the number of old lane lines to be removed. Constructing a raised median or widening a sidewalk can cost $62,000 or more per kilometer ($100,000 or more per mile). |
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Sketches by Michael Kimelberg
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