We need wide bike lanes

Where bike-friendly infrastructure is the norm, kids gain freedom. No car keys, no backseat waiting. They learn independence, time management, and how to get around on their own. A small shift in how we design cities helps them grow into confident, capable adults.

Credit: American Fietser on Bluesky

Introduction

Part of our vision is that people on bikes are able to safely access any property in Yarra, via a network of on-street protected bike lanes that link to mixed traffic on quiet 30 km/h neighbourhood streets

We need protected bike lanes to be wide so that biking is a safe, comfortable and viable alternative to driving, for large numbers of people of all ages and abilities, including the many who can’t drive. As cities expand their bike network, they often find that they need to increase the width of their lanes to account for greatly increased usage, as shown in this video.

Wider is safer, more inclusive, and enjoyable

Evidence from beautiful and liveable cities, from all around the world, shows that wide bike lanes improve safety, inclusivity, and comfort, making biking viable for people of all ages and abilities. Wide bike lanes allow a child to cycle next to their parent, or a faster rider to overtake a slower one. Overall, wide bike lanes succeed in making biking workable for more people, and a wider range of people.

City of Melbourne

The City of Melbourne’s Bike Lane Design Guidelines recommend a bike lane width of 1.8 to 3.0 metres, with a buffer to adjacent parking (to prevent collisions when a car door is opened) of 0.8 to 1.0 metres. This brings the total required width to 2.6 to 4.0 metres.

Image credit: City of Melbourne Bike Lane Design Guidelines.

NSW Cycleway Design Toolbox

The NSW Cycleway Design Toolbox recommends a width of 3.0 metres, and that if necessary, space should be reallocated from car parking. Bike lane width is identified as a key factor in reducing traffic stress for people biking.

Cycleways should be designed with the maximum possible width allowing for safe recovery and overtaking, catering for future growth in ridership, and accommodating riders of all ages and abilities.

A sufficiently wide cycling facility will also allow for higher cycling speed, allow people to ride side-by-side (such as parents and children) and cater for the emergence of innovative forms of micromobility.

Where higher bicycle volumes are expected or steeper gradients occur (leading to significant speed differences), a wider design should be considered.

Width for safety and comfort. Image credit: NSW Cycleway Design Toolbox.
Characteristics of stress level ratings. Image credit: NSW Cycleway Design Toolbox.

Oslo Street Design Manual

Similarly, the Oslo Street Design Manual recommends that bike lanes be 2.2 metres wide, with a buffer to adjacent parking (to prevent collisions when a car door is opened) of 0.8 metres. This brings the total width to 3.0 metres.

Credits: Oslo Street Design Manual.

Conclusion

We need wide bike lanes to get the outcome that we’re looking for – a beautiful, liveable and accessible city – delivering safety and inclusiveness for people of all ages and abilities to access any property in Yarra by bike. If we do this, we can enable many more people to choose to bike if that best meets their needs, and free up space on roads for people who need to drive. We urge the City of Yarra to ensure that all permanent protected bike lane infrastructure in the municipality is constructed in accordance with the above best-practice guidelines.


Published 27 January 2025