Bicycle Facilities
Louisville is creating an all ages and abilities citywide network; a network that meets the needs of our neighborhoods, businesses, and helps make our streets safer for everyone. View Louisville Metro bike facilities here. Below we have detailed explanations of common road reconfiguration infrastructure and roadway markings.
Sharrow
Shared Lane Markings (SLMs), or “sharrows,” are road markings used to indicate a shared lane environment for bicycles and automobiles. Among other benefits shared lane markings reinforce the legitimacy of bicycle traffic on the street and recommend proper bicyclist positioning.
Bike Lane
A Bike Lane is defined as a portion of the roadway that has been designated by striping, signage, and pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of bicyclists. Bike lanes enable bicyclists to ride at their preferred speed without interference from prevailing traffic conditions and facilitate predictable behavior and movements between bicyclists and motorists.
Buffered Lanes
Buffered bike lanes are conventional bicycle lanes paired with a designated buffer space separating the bicycle lane from the adjacent motor vehicle travel lane and/or parking lane.
What is a Contra-Flow Bike Lane?
Contra-flow bicycle lanes are bicycle lanes designed to allow bicyclists to ride in the opposite direction of motor vehicle traffic. They convert a one-way traffic street into a two-way street: one direction for motor vehicles and bikes, and the other for bikes only. Contra-flow lanes are separated with yellow center lane striping.
Left-Side Bike Lanes
Left-side bike lanes are conventional bike lanes placed on the left side of one-way streets.
Shared-Use Path
A shared-use path serves as part of a transportation circulation system and supports multiple recreation opportunities, such as walking, bicycling, and inline skating. Shared-use-paths are physically separated from motor vehicular traffic with an open space or barrier.
Bike Box
A Bike Box is a new road treatment being installed at select intersections around the city. The boxes create a safe space for cyclists to stop while waiting for the light to change at busy intersections. Bike Boxes were designed with motorists in mind. They make it easier to see cyclists, by moving them out of your blind spot and into a highly visible area.
Bike Detectors
Place your bicycle tires on this marking which will help turn a red light to a green light. Inductive loop sensors, commonly used for detection of traffic at demand-actuated traffic signals, can be configured and adjusted to detect bicycles with metal rims.
Bike Counters
Bike counters appear on our roadways as two Pneumatic TUBE sensors laid over the road or the bicycle lane, perpendicular to traffic flow. The system automatically monitors the speed and distance between the two bicycle wheels. Thanks to this information, the Pneumatic TUBES sensors are able to extract directional data, discriminating bicycles from motorized vehicles in mixed traffic, extract directional data and accurately count the number of cyclists in a group.
Popular Questions
Can I ride my bike on the sidewalk?
No person over 11 years old shall operate a bicycle on any sidewalk in Louisville Metro, and nobody of any age shall ride on the sidewalk downtown. This does not apply to officers of Louisville Metro Police Department or Downtown Management District Cleaning and Safety Team personnel. Please click here for more information.
Can I park my car in the bike lane?
No person shall operate a motorized vehicle on a designated bike path or bike lane.
Can I drive my car in the bike lane?
No person shall operate a motorized vehicle on a designated bike path or bike lane.
