Offset Intersections

PORTLAND, OR

Offset Intersections are junctions at which two streets in a designated bicycle boulevard corridor align asymmetrically with an intersecting roadway. Since bicycle boulevards typically utilize local streets, bicyclists are likely to encounter discontinuities in the street grid that require them to turn briefly onto another street before resuming their original direction. Offset intersection treatments are categorized into treatments for major street crossing and treatments for minor street crossings.

Selection of the appropriate treatment depends on the width and traffic characteristics of the intersecting street and on whether the bicycle boulevard jogs to the right or to the left. If an intersecting street has traffic speeds and volumes equivalent to the bicycle boulevard, no treatment is needed, although wayfinding (signing and pavement markings) should clearly direct bicyclists through the offset. This is the preferred situation.

Portland, OR

When a bicycle boulevard crosses a major street at an offset intersection, additional corridor and crossing treatments may be required to preserve the attractiveness and comfort of the bicycle boulevard.

Treatments for a jog to the right include the following:

On a minor collector street without bike lanes or where bike lanes are present, a two-stage turn queue box placed in the on-street parking lane can allow bicyclists to reposition themselves and wait for a crossing opportunity. This is particularly important where the connecting street has continuous bike lanes so that bicycle boulevard traffic will not block the bike lane while waiting for a gap in traffic. It can be combined with a crosswalk and/or median island depending on the operational characteristics of the cross street.

Center left-turn lanes designed specifically for bicyclists can be marked to allow bicyclists to turn left from the cross street back onto the bicycle boulevard. Bicyclists approaching from the first bicycle boulevard section turn right onto the cross street, then merge across one direction of traffic into the turn lane, where they have a protected space to wait for a gap in the opposing direction. This treatment is appropriate for a street with one travel lane in each direction or where motor vehicle speeds and volumes are low enough on the cross street so that there are sufficient gaps.¹⁶⁴

Other treatments for either left- or right-side offsets include the following:

At an offset intersection where a signal exists, signal phasing can accommodate bicyclists riding through the intersection. This treatment will require a longer phase on the major street than a standard intersection, as it should provide sufficient time for bicyclists to travel through the jog.

A pair of one-way cycle tracks can be used along the section of roadway connecting the offset segments of a bicycle boulevard. This treatment requires crossing treatments on both sides of the facility, and may facilitate wrong-way riding on the cycle track.

A two-way cycle track has the advantage of diverting bicyclists traveling in either direction on a bicycle boulevard to a single crossing location. This minimizes the cost of the crossing treatments and enables the use of beacons and signals, which cannot be used in close proximity.

A median island is similar to the center turn lane treatment, except an extruded curb end cap provides more of a buffer than just paint. This type of crossing can be used to accommodate a jog in either direction, as bicyclists can cross one lane of traffic and ride in the median.

If the connecting street is one way for motor vehicle traffic, consider allowing bicyclists to travel against the flow of traffic using a contra-flow bike lane. Contra-flow bike lanes are installed on one side of the street facing one-way vehicle traffic.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (PHOTO: SANFRANCISCOIZE.COM, MARK DREGER)

Benefits

Provides safer conditions for crossing and turning, and prevents the short route section along the connecting street from becoming the “weak link in the chain,” which lowers the comfort and safety level of the entire route.

Provides continuity to bicycle boulevard routes over a discontinuous local street network.

Adds comfort and wayfinding elements to jogs along the bicycle boulevard, particularly important along busier cross streets.

Typical Applications

Where a bicycle boulevard has to turn or travels for a brief distance on another street.

VANCOUVER, CANADA

Required Features

Wayfinding signs shall be provided to indicate the change in direction when a bicycle boulevard turns.

Appropriate bicycle facilities (shared lane markings, bike lanes, cycle tracks, etc.) shall be used on the street onto which bicyclists turn when a bicycle boulevard jogs.

Crossing treatments appropriate to the roadway characteristics shall be provided to assist bicyclists in crossing the roadway or making turning movements in order to stay on the bicycle boulevard.¹⁶⁵

Recommended Features

If the bicycle boulevard turns onto a street with another bikeway, treatments should provide sufficient space for users turning onto the bicycle boulevard to wait for a crossing opportunity without blocking users continuing on the bikeway.

Optional Features

Pavement markings indicating the change in direction from the bicycle boulevard may supplement wayfinding signs on the approach to a jog.

Intersection crossing markings may be used to assist in crossing major streets. See Intersection Crossing Markings for more guidance.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (PHOTO: MATT HONAN)

TUCSON, AZ

Maintenance

Paint can wear more quickly in high traffic areas or in winter climates. Facilities should be cleared of snow through routine snow removal operations.

Treatment Adoption and Professional Consensus

AASHTO’s Bicycle Facilities Design Guidelines document describes a long median that bicyclists can use to navigate an offset intersection along a trail.

Portland, OR, and Tucson, AZ, use a short cycle track to provide enhanced bicycle access along a busy street to make a connection to bikeways on lower-speed streets.

Additional offset intersection treatments are currently used in the following U.S. cities:

• Portland, OR

• San Francisco, CA

• Seattle, WA

• Tucson, AZ