Introduction
An edge lane road, or ELR, is a shared street treatment that provides for two-way motor vehicle and vulnerable road user (VRU) traffic using a center lane and edge lanes on either side. The center lane is primarily for motorists traveling in both directions but VRUs can use it also. VRUs such as cyclists or pedestrians have right-of-way in the edge lanes but motorists can use the edge lanes, after yielding to the VRUs there, to pass approaching vehicles. This can sound ludicrous to those not familiar with the concept but it works well in numerous countries, including the US and Canada. This roadway configuration originated in the Netherlands where they have over 50 years and many hundreds of road-kilometers of experience with this facility.
The video below was produced by the City of Ottawa and is a good explanation of how this shared street treatment operates.
An edge lane road, or ELR, is a shared street treatment that provides for two-way motor vehicle and vulnerable road user (VRU) traffic using a center lane and edge lanes on either side. The center lane is primarily for motorists traveling in both directions but VRUs can use it also. VRUs such as cyclists or pedestrians have right-of-way in the edge lanes but motorists can use the edge lanes, after yielding to the VRUs there, to pass approaching vehicles. This can sound ludicrous to those not familiar with the concept but it works well in numerous countries, including the US and Canada. This roadway configuration originated in the Netherlands where they have over 50 years and many hundreds of road-kilometers of experience with this facility.
The video below was produced by the City of Ottawa and is a good explanation of how this shared street treatment operates.
Terminology
This treatment is known by different names. Examples include: 2-minus-1 roads (New Zealand, Denmark), Edge Lane Road (Denmark, US), Schutzstreifen (Germany), Suggestiestrook (Netherlands), and Advisory Bike Lanes (US).
I recommend the use of "Edge Lane Road" or ELR since it avoids the numerous problems associated with the Advisory Bike Lanes and Advisory Shoulders names. Those problems are described here.
This treatment is known by different names. Examples include: 2-minus-1 roads (New Zealand, Denmark), Edge Lane Road (Denmark, US), Schutzstreifen (Germany), Suggestiestrook (Netherlands), and Advisory Bike Lanes (US).
I recommend the use of "Edge Lane Road" or ELR since it avoids the numerous problems associated with the Advisory Bike Lanes and Advisory Shoulders names. Those problems are described here.
Purpose
This website has two goals around ELRs: 1) ensure accurate information is available to everybody and 2) put a stake in the ground on design issues with an intent to foster dialogue. This site targets traffic engineers, bicycle advocates and those that are more knowledgeable about road design.
This website has two goals around ELRs: 1) ensure accurate information is available to everybody and 2) put a stake in the ground on design issues with an intent to foster dialogue. This site targets traffic engineers, bicycle advocates and those that are more knowledgeable about road design.
Edge Lane Roads given a 3-star Crash Modification Factor of .56
The FHWA's CMF Clearinghouse now includes CMF #10976. This CMF is rated 3 stars and calls out a 44% reduction in crashes for ELRs, as compared to a standard two-lane road. Click here to view the CMF.
The FHWA's CMF Clearinghouse now includes CMF #10976. This CMF is rated 3 stars and calls out a 44% reduction in crashes for ELRs, as compared to a standard two-lane road. Click here to view the CMF.
New Videos documenting experiences with ELRs from Vail, CO and Yarmouth, ME!
Two new videos have been released as of April, 2024. They document the story of ELRs in two communities - Vail, CO and Yarmouth, ME. They feature town leaders, law enforcement, advocates, and citizens that simply like to walk. Click here to access the videos.
Two new videos have been released as of April, 2024. They document the story of ELRs in two communities - Vail, CO and Yarmouth, ME. They feature town leaders, law enforcement, advocates, and citizens that simply like to walk. Click here to access the videos.
ELRs are Shared Roadways
ELRs are a shared street paradigm rather than a new type of bike lane. The concept of a shared roadway exists in the MUTCD. A process for implementing an ELR in compliance with the 2009 MUTCD is described here.
ELRs are a shared street paradigm rather than a new type of bike lane. The concept of a shared roadway exists in the MUTCD. A process for implementing an ELR in compliance with the 2009 MUTCD is described here.
Short Course on ELR Planning and Design
Because ELRs are new to the US and best practices are not well disseminated, many facilities exhibit missed opportunities to increase safety or comfort. If you don't have time to read the design guide, the following two documents should help you avoid the most common missteps.
Seven ELR Planning Sins
Seven ELR Design Sins
Because ELRs are new to the US and best practices are not well disseminated, many facilities exhibit missed opportunities to increase safety or comfort. If you don't have time to read the design guide, the following two documents should help you avoid the most common missteps.
Seven ELR Planning Sins
Seven ELR Design Sins
News
Accessible Design for the Blind (ADB), best known as the entity led by tireless advocate for the low vision population, Janet Barlow, released a letter in September 2022 stating their preference for ELRs over standard 2 lane roads without sidewalks for the low vision population. A copy of the letter is available here.
A draft proposal by the NCUTCD Bicycle Technical Committee on an MUTCD addition for ELRs as advisory bike lanes has been completed and is out for review by other technical committees. The Pedestrian Joint Task Force is working on a proposal for ELRs that support all types of vulnerable road users. Whether these 2 proposals will be combined or kept separate is unknown.
Nobody knows when the new AASHTO Bicycle Guide will be released. We do know that it includes some new guidance on the treatment. The AASHTO draft copies the Dutch guidance on on center lane width which should help create safer facilities. Unfortunately, it keeps Passing Sight Distance as the sight distance criterion.
Accessible Design for the Blind (ADB), best known as the entity led by tireless advocate for the low vision population, Janet Barlow, released a letter in September 2022 stating their preference for ELRs over standard 2 lane roads without sidewalks for the low vision population. A copy of the letter is available here.
A draft proposal by the NCUTCD Bicycle Technical Committee on an MUTCD addition for ELRs as advisory bike lanes has been completed and is out for review by other technical committees. The Pedestrian Joint Task Force is working on a proposal for ELRs that support all types of vulnerable road users. Whether these 2 proposals will be combined or kept separate is unknown.
Nobody knows when the new AASHTO Bicycle Guide will be released. We do know that it includes some new guidance on the treatment. The AASHTO draft copies the Dutch guidance on on center lane width which should help create safer facilities. Unfortunately, it keeps Passing Sight Distance as the sight distance criterion.
Latest Research
A 2021 study from the Mineta Transportation Institute found an aggregate CMF value of .56 using Empirical Bayes analysis for 11 U.S. installations studied over 8 years and approximately 60 million motor vehicle trips. This corresponds to a crash rate reduction of 44%. Only motor vehicle crashes were studied. There was insufficient data to evaluate vulnerable road user safety but no agency reported a bicyclist or pedestrian safety issue with their ELRs.
The report is available at “Safety Considerations for All Road Users on Edge Lane Roads”.
A new analysis of the Mineta data using even more conservative assumptions was recently published in the Journal of Transportation Engineering published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); it found a crash rate reduction of 36% or a CMF of .64. That article is available here.
Keep up-to-date on ELR news
An email listserv has been created as a google group to support discussion of ELRs. Just search for the "edgelaneroads" google group and subscribe!
A 2021 study from the Mineta Transportation Institute found an aggregate CMF value of .56 using Empirical Bayes analysis for 11 U.S. installations studied over 8 years and approximately 60 million motor vehicle trips. This corresponds to a crash rate reduction of 44%. Only motor vehicle crashes were studied. There was insufficient data to evaluate vulnerable road user safety but no agency reported a bicyclist or pedestrian safety issue with their ELRs.
The report is available at “Safety Considerations for All Road Users on Edge Lane Roads”.
A new analysis of the Mineta data using even more conservative assumptions was recently published in the Journal of Transportation Engineering published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); it found a crash rate reduction of 36% or a CMF of .64. That article is available here.
Keep up-to-date on ELR news
An email listserv has been created as a google group to support discussion of ELRs. Just search for the "edgelaneroads" google group and subscribe!
Database of ELRs in North America
I maintain a database of ELR installs in the US and Canada (there are more than 80 as of July 2023!). The database includes geometric, technical, and legal information on each facility secured through an interview with an agency representative. I hope to make this data publicly available, ala Kittelson's roundabout database, in the future. If you are aware of a new ELR, please let me know by emailing me at [email protected].
I maintain a database of ELR installs in the US and Canada (there are more than 80 as of July 2023!). The database includes geometric, technical, and legal information on each facility secured through an interview with an agency representative. I hope to make this data publicly available, ala Kittelson's roundabout database, in the future. If you are aware of a new ELR, please let me know by emailing me at [email protected].
Advisory Bike Lanes |
Top Photo Courtesy of Richard Sparks
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