Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Bicycling

Bicycle Facility Design Manual

MnDOT’s Bicycle Facility Design Manual is a resource for MnDOT planners and designers to plan for and implement context-appropriate bicycle facilities within MnDOT right-of-way. The 2020 Minnesota Bicycle Facility Design Manual supersedes the 2007 Minnesota Bikeway Facility Design Manual. This manual provides the information necessary to develop safe, consistent and predictable bicycle facilities along MnDOT’s trunk highway system. Providing connected networks of comfortable and safe bicycle facilities is an important factor to support and increase the use of bicycling for transportation.

The manual was developed based on national design standards and accepted industry practices, in particular the American Association of Highway Transportation Officials Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities (fourth edition and forthcoming fifth edition). The manual should be used in conjunction with the current versions of the MnDOT Road Design Manual and the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The manual is not intended as a legal standard, and all design guidance should be considered with engineering judgment.

Bicycle Facility Design Manual PDF (19 MB)

Chapter Title and link Date updated
N/A Cover and Table of Contents October 2024
1 Introduction October 2024
2 Scoping, Planning and Project Coordination October 2024
3 Facility Selection October 2024
4 Operational Characteristics & Elements of Design October 2024
5 Bicycle Facilities October 2024
6 Maintenance October 2024
7 Special Design Elements October 2024
8 Appendices October 2024

MnDOT periodically updates the Bicycle Facility Design Manual to correct errors or provide additional, complementary information. Major revisions to recommended practices or designs are distributed within the agency for review and comment as appropriate.

Revision notes (Word)