--- title: "Urban Bikeway Design Guide: Transportation Group’s Safety Efforts" id: "17950" type: "post" slug: "urban-bikeway-design-guide-transportation-groups-safety-efforts" published_at: "2013-06-14T21:21:23+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-15T20:27:53+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/06/14/urban-bikeway-design-guide-transportation-groups-safety-efforts/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/06/14/urban-bikeway-design-guide-transportation-groups-safety-efforts.md" excerpt: "Bike-sharing programs are fast becoming a part of the urban landscape in the United States. One association is working to keep city bikers safe." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "bike-sharing" - "Leadership" - "Safety" - "urban biking" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Urban Bikeway Design Guide: Transportation Group’s Safety Efforts New York City’s [bike-sharing program has plenty of bugs to work out (opens in a new tab)](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/11/citi-bike-sharing-new-york/2387287/) , but it has attracted more than [36,000 annual memberships (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/12/nyregion/two-weeks-in-riders-and-errors-for-bike-share-effort.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0) since its debut two weeks ago. According to Citi Bike’s blog, [riders have taken 212,015 trips using the shared bikes (opens in a new tab)](http://nacto.org/cities-for-cycling/design-guide/) during that time. No serious injuries have been reported thus far. With more cities debuting and developing bike-shares and becoming more bicycle-friendly in general, the National Association of City Transportation Officials is working to keep urban biking safe. The group released the [“Urban Bikeway Design Guide” (opens in a new tab)](http://nacto.org/cities-for-cycling/design-guide/) to provide “state-of-the-practice solutions that can help create complete streets that are safe and enjoyable for bicyclists.” NACTO worked with urban bikeway planning professionals from 22 member cities as well as with traffic engineers, planners, and academics to create the guide. Recommendations include having well-marked and distinct bike lines, a buffered area between traffic and the bike lane, bicycle signal lights at intersections, and a bicycle “wayfinding system” of comprehensive signage and pavement markings. The recommendations aren’t the only measures being considered by U.S. cities looking to make the urban landscape more hospitable to bicyclists. Chicago, which [delayed the debut of its bike-sharing system by two weeks (opens in a new tab)](http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-06-11/news/ct-met-divvy-bike-share-delay-20130612_1_bike-sharing-program-divvy-alta-bicycle-share-inc) for “more extensive testing” of equipment, is toughening up its laws in order to keep bikers safe. According to *[The New York Times (opens in a new tab)](http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/13/bike-sharing-can-mean-safer-biking/)*, the Chicago City Council voted to double fines for drivers who open doors in front of bike riders; violators will now have to shell out $300 for an infraction, or $1,000 if the action causes an accident. Bike-sharing programs in other countries have led to increased safety. *[BloombergBusinessweek (opens in a new tab)](http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-30/nyc-bike-sharing-makes-sense-dot-it-probably-wont-make-money)* cites a 2011 study finding that Barcelona’s bike-sharing program “saved an average of 12 lives a year” since debuting in 2007, thanks to the health benefits of riding as well as the reduction of automobile exhaust emissions. Those benefits outweighed the risks of traffic accidents, the study found. (photo by edenpictures/Thinkstock) [Daniel Ford](https://associationsnow.com/author/daniel-ford/) Daniel Ford is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/daniel-ford/) Tags: [#bike-sharing](https://associationsnow.com/tag/bike-sharing/) [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) [#Safety](https://associationsnow.com/tag/safety/) [#urban biking](https://associationsnow.com/tag/urban-biking/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: All for the Love of Chicago: Rethinking the Destination ExperienceSeptember 10, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/10/associations-now-presents-all-for-the-love-of-chicago-rethinking-the-destination-experience/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2013%2F06%2F14%2Furban-bikeway-design-guide-transportation-groups-safety-efforts%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !