U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000

Skip to content
Facebook iconYouTube iconTwitter iconFlickr iconLinkedInInstagram

Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations

Report
This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-05-116
 Date: July 2006

Lesson 16: Bicycle Facility Maintenance

This photograph shows a woman with a push broom who is cleaning a wide shared use path. Her bicycle is also parked on the path and include a trailer that contains maintenance equipment.

Lesson Outline

  • Maintenance objectives.
  • Typical process.
  • Common problems.
  • User feedback.

Maintenance Objectives

  • Strive to keep facilities hazard-free.
  • Encourage reporting of hazards.
  • Design and build facilities with maintenance in mind.
  • Program for maintenance.

The photograph shows a new paved street with a newly striped bike lane. Debris (appears to be grass clippings and small brush) has accumulated in the right half of the bike lane.

Implementation Planning

  • Identify implementers.
  • Review policies and practices.
  • Review results.
  • Recommend changes.
  • Create spot improvement program.
  • Evaluate the process.

Typical Maintenance Problems

  • Surface problems:
    – Debris, pavement quality, snow removal.
  • Vegetation:
    – Encroaching vegetation (trees and grass).
  • Signing and marking:
    – Uniform and usable condition.

Feedback from Users

This photograph shows a postcard that is used to identify and report road maintenance issues. The card identifies the type of problem, the location, a description for why it is a problem, and an area to describe what the reporter thinks should be done about the problem.

Source: Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition, http://www.vtbikeped.org

Lesson Summary

  • Maintenance is an important function.
  • Formulate program objectives.
  • Develop implementation plan.

 

FHWA-HRT-05-116

Previous | Table of Contents | Next

 

Privacy Policy | Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) | Accessibility | Web Policies & Notices | No Fear Act | Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse
U.S. DOT Home | USA.gov | WhiteHouse.gov

Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center | 6300 Georgetown Pike | McLean, VA | 22101