Urban Bikeway Design Guide

Median Refuge Island

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA (PHOTO: WWW.PEDBIKEIMAGES.ORG, ADAM FUKUSHIMA)

Median refuge islands are protected spaces placed in the center of the street to facilitate bicycle and pedestrian crossings. Crossings of two-way streets are facilitated by allowing bicyclists and pedestrians to navigate only one direction of traffic at a time. Medians configured to protect cycle tracks can both facilitate crossings and also function as two-stage turn queue boxes. See Two-Stage Turn Queue Boxes for guidance details.

For bicycle facility crossings of higher volume or multi-lane streets, increased levels of treatment may be desired including bicycle signals, hybrid beacons, or active warning beacons.

TUCSON, AZ (PHOTO: MICHAEL MCKISSON, TUCSONVELO.COM)

Benefits

By simplifying crossings, allows bicyclists to more comfortably cross streets.

Provides a protected space for bicyclists to wait for an acceptable gap in traffic.

On two-way streets allows bicyclists to take advantage of gaps in one direction of traffic at a time.

Reduces the overall crossing length and exposure to vehicle traffic for a bicyclist or pedestrian.

Decreases the amount of delay that a bicyclist will experience to cross a street.

Calms traffic on a street by physically narrowing the roadway and potentially restricts motor vehicle left turn movements.

Establishes and reinforces bicycle priority on bicycle boulevards by restricting vehicle through movements.

When used with a protected cycle track, raised medians can be installed at each side of the block to give structure to the floating parking lane.

When used to protect a cycle track, raised medians can provide crossing pedestrians with a refuge area and/or provide shelter for a bicyclist making a two-stage turn across traffic.

PORTLAND, OR

NEW YORK, NY

Typical Applications

Where a bikeway crosses a moderate to high volume or high speed street.

Along streets with high bicycle and pedestrian volumes.

Along streets with few acceptable gaps to cross both directions of traffic.

At signalized or unsignalized intersections.

Where it is desirable to restrict vehicle through movements, a median can double as a diverter to prevent cut-through traffic on a bicycle route.

With protected cycle tracks.

Required Features

The desirable width of the median refuge is 10 feet or greater. The absolute minimum width is 6 feet.^⁷³

When applied on a two-way street, the median refuge shall be placed along the centerline of the roadway between the opposing directions of travel.

Pavement markings on the approach to the refuge island shall follow the guidance provided in Section 3I.02 of the MUTCD.^⁷⁴

The approach edge of the raised median shall be outlined in retroreflective white or yellow material.^⁷⁵

In areas with snow accumulation, reflective delineators shall be used to mark the island for increased visibility to snow plow crews.

Recommended Features

The length of the refuge island should be greater than 6 feet.^⁷⁶

Reflective markers should be used on the approach to the nose of the island’s curb.^⁷⁷

The height of the island should be curb level, 6 inches high. When used as an exclusive bicycle facility it may be desirable to keep the refuge area at street level.^⁷⁸

An angled cut-through (45 degrees) should be provided to position bicyclists to face oncoming traffic. If the cut-through is to be shared with pedestrians, the 45-degree angle of the curb should transition back to being perpendicular to the street to provide proper directional cues for the blind.