Cycle track

A cycle track or cycleway (British) or bikeway^[1] (mainly North American), sometimes historically^[2] referred to as a sidepath, is a separate route for cycles and not motor vehicles. In some cases cycle tracks are also used by other users such as pedestrians and horse riders (see shared-use route). A cycle track can be next to a normal road, and can either be a shared route with pedestrians (common in countries such as the United Kingdom) or be made distinct from both the pavement and general roadway by vertical barriers or elevation differences.^[3][4]

In urban planning, cycle tracks are designed to encourage cycling and reduce motor vehicle congestion and pollution, cycling accidents (by alleviating the conflict between motor vehicles and cycles sharing the same road space) and general confusion and inconvenience for road users.

Cycle tracks may be one-way or two-way, and may be at road level, at sidewalk level, or at an intermediate level. When located alongside normal roads, they usually have some separation from motor traffic in the form of bollards, car parking, barriers or boulevards.^[3] Barriers may include curbs, concrete berms, posts, planting/median strips, walls, trenches, or fences. They are often accompanied by a curb extension or other features at intersections to simplify crossing.

In the UK, a cycle track is a road specifically for use by cyclists and not motor vehicles. In Ireland the term cycle track also includes cycle lanes marked on the carriageway, but only if accompanied by a specific sign. In the UK, a cycle track may be alongside a roadway (or carriageway) for all vehicles or it may be on its own alignment. The term does not include cycle lanes or other facilities within an all-vehicle carriageway.^[5]